Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children, fantasy

A Spell of Nine

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Gary Goldstein
Publisher: Frogshadow Press
Genre: Children / Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-615-35837-6
Pages: 268
Price: $16.95

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In the first Mythfits book, we were introduced to Cuspers – Mythfits who aren’t born in their true shape, but transform sometime later in life. In A Spell of Nine, we find two more Mythfits joining the ranks to help save the world against evil.

A powerful magician craves more and more power, and he’s not going to let anything stand in his way. So when he teams up with a talented fashion designer, the two begin to control the minds of the people who wear their clothing. A shopping mall turns into a sea of zombies, and the newest Mythfit, Wilt, is called on to stop him.

In the meantime, the Mythfit elders, including Ms. Link, huddle together to decide the fate of magical transformation, trying to lock the Mythfits in their human likenesses forever.

In the first Mythfits book, much of the story was told from an adult perspective, and in this one, it’s even more noticeable. I never connected with any of the children, since the story bounced around too much, never staying with any one character for very long. I also felt too much time was spent in explaining things readers already understood from the first book, which slowed down the pace.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Rumpelstiltskin

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Susan Meredith
Publisher: Rocking Chair Publications
Genre: Children / Fairy Tale
ISBN: 978-0984286621
Pages: 42
Price: $7.99

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When a beautiful human princess fell in love with a gnome prince, they were a very uneven couple. She was tall and he was short, so they decided to move far away from other people to avoid all the stares. And their son, Rumpelstiltskin, was good looking, like his mother, but only a little over three feet tall. So the boy grew up alone with his parents. But Rumpelstiltskin had inherited their talents for spinning straw into gold, and they all lived comfortably together.

But finally, Rumpelstiltskin grew lonely, and wanted to marry. His journey took him to another realm where a miller had decided to give his daughter in marriage to the highest bidder. Being already smitten with the girl, Clarissa, he offered a bag of gold for her hand. But he had competition from the king, who had heard Clarissa could spin straw into gold. Rumpelstiltskin knew he would have to come to her rescue.

Unlike in the original tale, the king has no evil intentions towards Clarissa if she doesn’t fulfill her purpose. He’s simply a greedy man who wants to accumulate a lot of wealth and a pretty bride. In this sweet romance, the good guy gets the girl, and everyone lives happily ever after.

Once again, Susan Meredith has turned a classic fairy tale into a cute story that kids today can relate to, with no scary stuff to give them nightmares. Instead, they’ll learn a subtle message that making big demands of people won’t get you as far as simply being kind. And they will be much better off marrying someone who will love them for who they are, and not just what they can do.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, poetry

Tim and Sally’s Year In Poems

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Grady Thrasher
Illustrator: Elaine Hearn Rabon
Publisher: Jonquil Books
Genre: Children / Poetry
ISBN: 978-0-9827614-0-3
Pages: 56
Price: $18.95

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Tim and Sally offer us a gentle adventure in poetry that spans the course of a year. Visiting the seasons and the holidays, they share the wonders of life on the farm. Butterflies, sparrows and bunnies frolic in spring flowers. School’s out for the summer, heralding watermelon, forts, and fireworks. Then it’s back to school, bright fall foliage, pumpkins, and crisp, clean air. Finally, winter snowmen, sleds, and Christmas round out the year.

Grady Thrasher’s use of language is evocative of his own childhood memories, as well as the ones he hopes kids will share with him. His poetry is lilting and lively, with good use of rhyme. And the charming and nostalgic watercolor illustrations by Elaine Hearn Rabon bring this journey through the seasons to life.

Tim and Sally’s Year in Poems received a 2010 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award “celebrating youthful curiosity, discovery and learning through books and reading.” This beautiful book reminds us of a simpler time when seasonal pleasures brought so much joy. Share it with your grandkids and reminisce.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health, self improvement

The Energy Cure

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: William Bengston, PhD
Publisher: Sounds True
Genre: Health / Mind-Body
ISBN: 978-1-59179-911-5
Pages: 256
Price: $18.95

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If someone told you he had the cure for cancer in his hands, would you believe him? Would you trust him to cure you? William Bengstrom discovered this unique ability in an experiment with mice injected with a deadly form of cancer. When the mice spontaneously remitted, he knew he was onto something and he wanted to know more about this healing power he possessed.

Bengstrom knew it wasn’t enough to discover that something could be done. He needed to prove there was a science behind it, and that the results of his experiments could be replicated. So over the years, he continued to test himself and others in curing mice of cancer.

According to the author, we may also have the abilities he’s discovered in himself, and he shares his technique with us, hoping we can become healers, too. Since the process involves only energy shifts, no particular faith is necessary.

Written with Sylvia Fraser, this book documents Bengstrom’s history from the very beginning as a healer. A fascinating journey and engaging read, The Energy Cure is highly recommended.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, self improvement, tween

The Skinny On Bullying

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Mike Cassidy
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Self-help / Children
ISBN: 978-0-9824390-1-2
Pages: 128
Price: $12.95

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Billy and Beth are best friends. They’ve just turned ten years old and have graduated from elementary school.  But attending Stickville Middle School is so much different. Now they also have to deal with bullies. And since Gretchen arrived at their school, their lives are becoming more and more difficult, as she bullies them and their classmates.

Bullying comes in many forms, as this stick-figure illustrated book reminds us. While we may only think of bullying as physical intimidation, it’s possible to find it as verbal, indirect and cyberbullying. But there are ways to minimize being bullied and stand up to someone if they’re bullying others. Sometimes even the person who feels bullied can be guilty of bullying, as Billy and Beth find out while dealing with Gretchen. They are also surprised to find out that even bullies sometimes have problems of their own, and a little understanding can go a long way toward everyone getting along better.

Bullying has always been a problem for kids. The Skinny On Bullying addresses this issue in a way they can easily understand. These simple stick figures have expressive mannerisms and sometimes go a bit over-the-top in making a point. And the text provides clear lists of bullying behavior as well as how to handle it, so kids can refer back to them easily.

Reading The Skinny On Bullying will take only a short while, and will feel more like spending time with a comic book. But the powerful anti-bullying message will stick with kids for a long time.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy

The Mythfits

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Gary Goldstein
Publisher: Frogshadow Press
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-615-35836-9
Pages: 274
Price: $16.95

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On the evening of the Harmonic Convergence, five children are born in Hamilton. Although not related, they share a similar trait. All have magical features and don’t look like human babies. Thankfully, Melissa Link is on hand, ready with glamour charms that will help the children fit in with the rest of society.

But even though they appear normal, they are anything but, and the school dubs them the Misfits. They, however, prefer to be known as the Mythfits.

Some of the town’s children start to go missing, and suddenly Ms. Link vanishes, amidst disturbing circumstances. It’s up to the Mythfits, along with their new friend, Norma Lieber, to figure out what’s going on and try to find Ms. Link.

Although initially skeptical of Norma, these magical children finally come to accept her as one of their own, despite the fact she’s completely normal. Using their super-powers, they determine the force behind their mentor’s disappearance, and save her and themselves from harm.

Magic and friendship blend nicely as these kids are forced to work together, despite their squabbles. Even though the story is told at times through the eyes of the adults, kids will still enjoy the magic and intrigue surrounding this little town of Hamilton. The Mythfits is a fast-paced and fun read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

memoir

Norma Jean’s Sun

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Kris Courtney
Genre: Memoir
ISBN: 978-0-578-02059-4
Pages: 290
Price: $17.95

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Kris Courtney’s grandparents made a decision that would have terrible ramifications. As first cousins, their relationship was forbidden, but even though they were aware of the consequences of their actions, they chose to marry anyway.

Because of the choice they made, Courtney and his cousins were affected, though none as much as Kris himself. Birth defects too numerous to list here have plagued him his whole life, and surgery after surgery couldn’t correct what nature had done to his body.

As a result of his physical deformities, Courtney had to develop a coping mechanism, and his choice turned out to be his undoing. In Norma Jean’s Sun Kris Courtney details his struggles with his disabilities as well as his uncontrollable alcoholism and drug addiction.

Although it would be tempting for the author to blame those directly responsible for his misfortunes, Courtney shows refreshing forgiveness to those family members who had no idea what they would ultimately do to him. He is gracious in praising those who assisted him in his lowest times, acknowledging the sacrifices they made for him. And he also gives credit to his Higher Power, whom he calls God, in saving him from himself and his addictions.

Ultimately, Courtney is still dealing with his disabilities, but through God’s grace, he has been sober and functioning for many years now. He thrives as an artist in Ohio, and he is attempting to give back to those organizations who are working on cures for the ailments his family has suffered from.

Norma Jean’s Sun is no light reading. In fact, you’d probably hear a story like Courtney’s if you walked into an open twelve-step meeting. But there’s always hope, even for the most hopeless case, and Courtney proves that no matter how far down a man goes, he can still turn it around and have a good life.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

What’s the Trouble In the Forest of Kerfubble?

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Roger & Jennifer Sulham
Publisher: Inkblot Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0982641491
Pages: 32
Price: $9.99

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A tree falls in the forest, scaring a burrow of hares. Fearful of the noise, they scurry away, wondering what could have caused such a ruckus. Before long, other animals join them in their headlong flight, each with a more monstrous idea. Panic in the forest of Kerfubble has the animals on a wild run to escape.

Finally the voice of reason is heard from a local farmer, who explains to the scared animals what caused such a crashing sound, and reminds them not to jump to conclusions.

Reminiscent of Chicken Little, What’s the Trouble in the Forest of Kerfubble? shows us how easily we can blow the smallest things out of proportion and drag others along in our fears. Told in rhyming verse, this cute story is uniquely illustrated with textured cutouts of the forest animals.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

I, Emma Freke

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Elizabeth Atkinson
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Genre: Children’s fiction
ISBN: 978-0-7613-5604-2
Pages: 234
Price: $16.95

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It isn’t easy having a name like Emma Freke – which when said out loud sounds like am a freak. But it’s even worse that Emma is too tall, has too red hair, and suddenly finds herself a social misfit in sixth grade. She has no idea who her father is, and her mom is too New-Agey and insists on being called by her first name.

So when Emma is invited to the Freke family reunion, she’s finally given the chance to find out more about the other side of her family – the one she knows nothing about. And for the first time, she realizes that she’s not as freaky as she thought.

Now that Emma has been accepted by her new family, she embraces her mother’s wisdom in raising her, and returns home with a new sense of self-confidence. After being judged herself, she learns an important lesson about what it means to judge others, and that sometimes it’s better to keep an open mind.

I, Emma Freke is an enjoyable read for all middle-schoolers, but especially those who just don’t seem to fit in, no matter how hard they try. Elizabeth Atkinson has a great understanding of the trials and tribulations facing pre-teen kids, and it comes through in Emma’s thoughts and actions. I highly recommend this fun and well-written story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Snow White

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator:  Susan Meredith
Publisher: Rocking Chair Publications
Genre: Children / Fairy Tale
ISBN: 9780984286638
Pages: 42
Price $7.99

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When a beauty and talent contest is announced, the Amber Queen is sure she’ll win. After all, her magic mirror always tells her she’s the fairest in the land. The prize of a wish come true is too good to pass up. So when she realizes Snow White has a good chance of winning, she needs to take some action.

Sneaky and determined, the Amber Queen disguises herself and shows up at Snow White’s home, trying to sell her magic potions that will stop her from winning the contest. But the beautiful and domestically talented lady of the house never bothers with these things. Instead, her companion seven dwarfs suffer the consequences of using them.

Snow White’s wish is to share her home with a prince of a man who will truly appreciate her domestic skills. Is it possible her wish can come true without winning the contest?

Some of the old fairy tales were frightening for kids, but you won’t find any of that scary stuff in Gram’s Fairy Tales. Kid-friendly, cheery and fun, they’re safe for everyone.

Reviewer: Alice Berger