Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tough Guys and Drama Queens by Mark Gregston

Kids today are so different from when I was young. Why? According to Mark Gregston, it's a changed world and kids are reacting to it. In a positive world, kids react positively, but with all of the negativity on television, at school, and even in the home, kids are reacting in kind. As a middle school teacher, I agree 100% with Mark Gregston. His comment on parents being in a tough spot when even choosing clothing (buy into the seductive dressing for girls or have their child be shunned by peers?), hit home. I see so many girls in middle school dressing for Project Runway. Are young teens ready for that? No. Puberty is kicking in and girls don't need the added boy stress. The tips that Gregston gives parents are great! One might say they are common sense, but with overworked parents and busy children's schedules, sometimes common sense takes a back seat. Gregston's reminders are timely and should be heeded. Parents and teachers should read this book and learn how to help our children grow up, but not so fast that their childhood is nonexistent.

Heckel Casey by James Hoch

Using a dystopian world setting, Heckel Casey takes the good versus evil plot to a new level. Why did the world as we know it end? In the viewpoint of Heckel Casey, it was the decrease of moral values which openned the door to immense evil. Heckel Casey, the main character, reminds one of Nick Prescott in the classic "Walking Tall" movies. Heckel is one of the few who is still "good" and morally upright. He walks across America observing evil's chaos. He wants to end the evil that is overtaking society. This evil is Madeline. Madeline is characterizes evil with her use of manipulation. From enchantress to witch, Madeline is a force with which to be reckoned. James Hoch's writing style is simplistic and easy to read. His characters are believable, even the supernatural ones. One suggestion would be chapter titles (subtitles). Hoch changes perspective numerous times (first person, third person) and one needs to read a few paragraphs to discern who is telling the tale. The story, in itself, was pretty good. Readers who enjoy the "good versus evil" plot, will most definately like Heckel Casey.

Monday, July 9, 2012

The Scarlet Cord by Joan Wolf

This is the story of Rahab. The unknown story, that is, due to the reason that the bible says so very little about this important woman. Why is she important? She, as a Canaanite, helped the Isrealites destroy Jericho. In return, Rahab's family was spared. This story fills in the gaps of Rahab's life. Yes, it is historical fiction which means that the story is based on Rahab while the author weaves a tale to explain Rahab's life. Using much research on the time period, the author's tale is very plausible. I applaud her efforts. The heroine is believable, the story time period is accurate and the plot flows so well one can hardly put the book down. Joan Wolf shows Rahab as a strong girl and even stronger woman. The bible considered Rahab a prostitute, Joan Wolf reminds us that Rahab was brilliant.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Arms of Love by Kelly Long

Arms of Love was, in my opinion, disappointing. As a fan of historical fiction and Amish plotlines, I was excited as one author had combined my two favorites. As I read the story, I was more disappointed after every page. The first disappointment was the plot: it was extremely slow. The first few chapters held promise as the conflicts were stated, but the solutions were slow in coming. It isn't that the author gave too much information about the conflicts and solutions, the author was too wordy, too much filler with zero substance. The next disappointment was the characters. I didn't have a strong feeling for either main character. The author didn't describe the characters in enough detail for me to visualize them nor enough depth of emotion for me actually care. The final disappointment was the plot. The entire story could have been told in ten pages or less. Again, the author's use of wordiness was more filler than substance. Because I like to finish what I begin, I forced myself to finish the book. The ending was trite. This is my opinion.