Light Upon You

 

Where is the apostle Peter really buried?  For years, that has been a question asked for ages.  Now researchers are using every available book, paper, story, anything they can find to prove where he is really buried.  But the story is told by a church mouse.   This is a story of what is left after things fall apart. 

The story intrigued me because it was told by a church mouse, but the time going back and forth and being very detail-oriented was not that appealing to me.  That is just for me; I know there will be many history buffs and others that like it, so I won’t hold my preferences against it.  It was a good book, different, exciting, and refreshing.  I think many will like this, and I would love to try again with an audio, I think that would help me a lot.  Please, if it sounds up your alley, give it a try.

The unforgettable Leta Lightening

 

8th grader Leta is fast, very fast, and loves running the 400 for her school's track team.  Her dad left Leta, her sister, and her mom a while back and sends no support.  With no support, her mom works two jobs but still finds putting food on the table hard.  Leta thinks if she wins district, her mom will send her dad the picture, and he will come back to help her mom and talk her sister to the daddy-daughter dance.  But a new girl moves to town, and she also runs the 400 and is fast too.  Leta thinks if she trains harder and longer, she will get faster and not have to worry about her spot or winning district; what she doesn’t count on is the injury that can sideline her for the rest of the season. 

I have to admit that synopsis in no way tells the whole story, and it is a great story.  One I think all kids should read at one time or another.  It deals with so much, all rolled into one.  Food disparity, puberty, divorce, and more. With the main character being female, it is a wonderful book for girls, but boys can learn from it too.  This book is great for tweens and reluctant readers as well.  It was a very powerful and profound book that I just can not recommend enough.

The Sherlock Society Art Attack (MG)

Alex, Yadi, Lena, and Zoe are on the case.  This time, a building developer wants them to find the infamous graffiti artist Funky Munky so he can hire that person to paint a mural on the side of his new building.  Their investigation leads them to many artists, but how to know which one is Funky Munky when Funky Munky doesn’t want to be found, and how to talk to the person?  The team, along with some of Grandpa’s, contacts, led them into the world of graffiti art and all the colors and little quirks of each individual artist that makes it up. 

As always, Mr. Ponti has come up with another wonderful mystery to solve.  The plot is great I loved reading about graffiti and the artistic differences that make it up, but the way the kids come up with a way to solve this mystery is out of the box thinking that has to be respected, as long as they don’t end up in the clink doing it.  This book is action packed and full of suspense.  It does involve a bit of some plot twists and turns.  But it is a wonderful book that is good for all middle graders, and above, as well as reluctant readers, budding sleuths and artists.  I can’t wait for more books from Mr. Ponti as I am also a huge fan of the City Spies as well.  

 

The Sacrifice

The Island of Kisapmata is beautiful, with its wonderful beaches and lush greenery, a place you would love to have a beachfront cabana on.  But it also hides a huge secret that keeps local Filipinos from stepping foot on the island, as they don’t want to be an island victim.  But a film crew with an acclaimed adventurer looking to get back in the game after some troubles buys their way on; I don’t think they knew the full price they would need to pay.  They hire a local teen, Alon, to be their guide, and even though he tries his hardest to tell them they are making the sleeping god, Diwata, mad, they don’t listen; they only want the prize at the end.  “He who offers the sacrifice controls the Godseye.  The first to feed, the second to seed, the third to wear, the fourth to birth, the fifth to serve, the sixth to lure, the seventh to consume, the eighth to wake.” 

This was a good story with Filipino lore mixed in.  I have really started to like these lore-kind of books since Riordan Presents started with them.   Despite some parts feeling like the boxes were being checked, the rest was wonderful and action-packed.  There were some twists in the book; they were all really good.  Overall, I liked the book and think others who are fans, or maybe not yet fans, will love Ren Chupeco’s books as well.

 

City Spies London Calling

Cairo, the team's newest member, takes the lead when his sister goes missing in Istanbul, but the team quickly follows the trail to Rome.  But when there comes a delicate issue involving a royal wedding arises, the team must go to London and do what they do: blend in so well that no one at MI6 will notice them doing their job.  But they still have Cairo and his sister in their minds.

I love this series, and it is so great for readers of all ages, reluctant readers, and even as a classroom read.  Ponti weaves his tales so well, with some history, some Hi-Tech stuff, friendship, and loyalty.  This book just adds that much more mystic to the series. I cannot wait for the next adventure and hope I get to go along for the ride.

 

Firstborn

Bryn is the best fighter of her year, and all she needs to do is prove she can take a life to move on from the Longest Night and graduate; if she fails, she is exiled.  But when she finds that the lastborn are going to be kidnapped, she risks everything and goes with the number one enemy of her people to find and save her sister. What she learns along the way is very enlightening, and Bryn learns that not all she was told is true, but what will she do now?

This was a really good book.  It was fast-paced, suspenseful, and action-packed.  This book quickly gained speed and never slowed down.  This book was a very different take on a dystopian story, but one I think readers will fall in love with.

The first children take up arms, the second children take up books, the third children are taken.

 

Nando

Nando is a border collie who works hard herding and believes he needs to be perfect in everything he does.  But he soon learns he cannot control Mother Nature when she pelts the farm with so much rain that Cloe, Stella, Cloe’s seizure beagle, Oscar the cat, and Nando all get swept away in the flooded, fast-moving creek.  He also learns he needs help sometimes and finds that help in a boy, Levi; together, they will find their way back where each belongs and for the surprises that await at the end.

This is the fourth book in the Best Friends Dog Tales series, and I have loved every one of them.  I will be sad to give up the tales of this family and their ragtag group of pets.  I can’t wait until I can read Oscar’s book, which isn’t listed as one of the Best Friends Tales, as he’s not a dog, but it exists, and many more.  I love the series, and this book didn’t disappoint; it is good for all ages, a classroom read, and even for reluctant readers.