Author: J.C.

Daisy: The Homeschool Kids by Riley Rawls

Daisy: The Homeschool Kids by Riley Rawls

Posted on by J.C.

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Title: Daisy: The Homeschool Kids

Author: Riley Rawls

Published By: CreateSpace (2017)

Synopsis: Daisy Freeman is a Christian, teenage homeschooler, whose freshman year has just gotten started! The school year kicks off on the first day of co-op, when Daisy will finally see her best friend Harley again, who has been away on vacation. Freshman year will be a breeze with her by Daisy’s side! But her day goes far differently than she’d expected when she learns that Harley, the preacher’s daughter, and her family are moving away.
Daisy can’t understand why this is God’s plan! Why? Daisy’s family and friends try to convince her that God always has a plan and a purpose for everything, and she just has to accept that and trust in Him. But will she ever learn to do that as everything seems to fall apart around her?

Review:

Omigosh, the world needs more books like this: happy books that so perfectly capture the Christian homeschool lifestyle. This story brought back so many co-op memories for me and I related to so much of the story!

While I thought the characters could have used a little more characterization, they weren’t flat or underdeveloped in the least. I really came to love these different personalities, and I’m so looking forward to getting to know them even more in future books!

I thought the storyline flowed well, with good structure, and no fluff or pointless drama. The plot of the story was fast-paced but not dramatic; just regular everyday life done exceptionally well.

The one setback I had was how it ended with everything tied up in a perfect little bow. Granted, that is just how the story was written to be, from what I can tell—to be a sweet story about the life of homeschoolers, not anything super deep, and I have absolutely no problems with that—but it felt a little stilted, maybe because those kind of perfect reconciliations don’t always happen in real life.

Still, like I said, I think this book was meant to be more of a happy, sweet story with subtle morals, and looking it at from that angle it made total sense to have everything wrap up so well. And I do think the author did a good job with it!

Negative Content/Notes:

No negative content!

Overall:

Honestly, like I’ve said, the world needs more happy books like this, and it truly does capture the homeschooler spirit! On that same note, though, I’m not sure anyone who’s not a Christian homeschooler will really enjoy this book the same way a homeschooler might. But I could be totally wrong on that!

Rating: 5.0

Recommended to: Anyone who is homeschooled, all ages!

The Journey by Alleece Balts

The Journey by Alleece Balts

Posted on by J.C.

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Title: The Journey (The Crowd, #2)

Author: Alleece Balts

Published By: CreateSpace (2017)

Synopsis: How do you keep moving forward when the path you’re on comes to an end?
At nineteen years old, Ella Parker is a star on the rise. With her vocal training at Juilliard underway, she’s more than prepared for a glittering performance career with the rock band Wicked Youth, and anticipating the prospect of becoming engaged to her billionaire boyfriend… Someday. But when she collapses on stage during a summer concert and receives a chilling diagnosis, the promise of someday suddenly slips away.
Forced to confront her darkest fears, Ella must not only find the courage to go on after her once certain future has disappeared, but also to track down her runaway friend, Lucas, before time runs out. (Taken from Goodreads.)

Review:

Are there words to describe how much love I have for this book? I’m not sure, but I’ll definitely try in this review.

Picking up where the first book left off, The Journey continues to follow Ella and (aaah!) Jack through life as new problems suddenly begin to arise. Character-driven yet strongly plotted, this book ended way too soon. I laughed and cried my way through this amazing novel.

I liked Ella better than I did in the first book, but she also stayed true to her character. Maybe she’s just grown on me. I loved Logan’s side plot and how cleverly it was worked in. Ella, while not maybe extremely likeable, was still very real and relatable. Her responses and emotional reactions to events and bad news in her life seemed round and full, relatable and realistic.

The one thing I was confused about was the whole school situaiton—like, is she in school or not? Is she graduated? It seemed a little hazy. Ultimately, it didn’t negatively impact the story, though. I thought this was perfectly paced, and in fact ended too soon for my taste, though I did squeal at the announcement at the end of a 3rd book! I really liked how different this one was from its predecessor plot-wise, yet both still flowed together and made sense. I also liked the Christian aspect that didn’t predominate, nor control, but simply slipped in, which I felt was true to many real lives and would be very powerful and relatable.

Negative Content/Notes:

Ella and Jack are very romantically involved and are indeed working toward marriage—Jack actually talks about his intention to propose. They kiss an awful lot, though not always detailed. What I wanted to note was how Jack mentioned a lot of times how “temptin” Ella was, followed by sly implications of going further, including hints at taking off clothes. When questioned, Jack boldly responds that “we aren’t harvesting the corn before it’s planted, sir”, implying that they will not sleep together before marriage. Still, the innuendos are there and did bother me to an extent, considering this is Christian fiction and I do expect a little more from such books. Still, I did not feel uncomfortable with any parts of this book and I do hold fast to my opinion that it was all presented in an overall wholesome light, not glorifying the wrong things but, in my opinion, just simply written for a more mature audience.

Overall: I LOVED IT I LOVED IT AAAAAH (very rarely do I get this excited about a book….)

Rating: 5.0

Recommended to: Due to the few sexual innuendos and content I would say probably ages 14/15+.

The Crowd by Alleece Balts

The Crowd by Alleece Balts

Posted on by J.C.

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Title: The Crowd (The Crowd, #1)

Author: Alleece Balts

Published By: CreateSpace (2013)

Synopsis: Whitfield Preparatory Academy ought to be the perfect school… Not only does the Academy boast a distinguished faculty and lavish campus, it is also home to the privileged youth of the upper class. They will one day hold the reins of power in the business world and political arena – but for now, they exercise absolute authority at the Academy.
For seventeen-year-old Ella Parker, acceptance into the prestigious Academy is a dream come true. But her delight quickly turns to dread when she finds herself in the crosshairs of an elite group of ruthless students dubbed “the Crowd.” Ella’s been at the center of unwanted attention before – but never like this – and she’ll do anything to make them stop. Anything, that is, apart from accepting the advances of popular and wealthy playboy Jackson Montgomery, the leader of the Crowd.
Will Ella be humiliated, or triumph over her tormentors?
An irresistible story of faith, friendship, betrayal, and romance, The Crowd will immerse readers in Ella’s tumultuous struggle from the very first page. (Taken from Goodreads.)

Review: 

I don’t even know where to begin. I loved this book so, so, so much. The plotline was clever, amazing and naturally felt realistic, and the romance was sooooooo sweet!

I loved the way the “crowd” was done…though I do feel it wasn’t exactly the prominent feature of this story but more apart of Ella’s story as a whole; the story was really focused on Ella’s journey and growth, and the crowd was just apart of that. I can’t wait to see how the next installment works with this one. It was just a unique and beautiful story with great themes and the characters tying everything together. I thought the author did a fantasic job especially with the characters; they are just so perfect for this story, any other characters and the story just doesn’t work. It was so beautiful! I appreciated how the Christian message was hinted at, subtly, in the background, always guiding but never being shoved down the reader’s throat.

The one thing I didn’t like was that Jack and Ella were kissing before they were even sure they liked each other—that’s not really a message I think of as positive to send to young readers—but it was super sweet, and, considering this book was painted to be more of a fairy-tale like story, I absolutely loved the romance after that. It was the first story I’ve read with an actual good love triangle—in terms of two actual options—though I am totally team Jack just saying!

Negative Content/Notes:

From the summary, I was a litttle nervous becuase it described Jack as “a playboy” and I was concerned with how that would translate in the book. However, having finished it, I feel it was almost a mis-label. This book was completely clean. There are quite a few kisses, but not in a way that I’d say was dirty. There are a few times a character would make an implication to more sexual things, but it was never in a wrong light and I was not uncomfortable with anything presented. As a whole everything was presented in a wholesome way. I found it very refreshing and sweet and I LOVED IT!!!!

Rating: 5.0

Recommended to: Ages 13+!

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Posted on by J.C.

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Title: Flora & Ulysses

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Published By: Candlewick Press (2013)

Synopsis:

It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry—and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart. (Taken from Goodreads.)


Review:

This book was hilarious! I was laughing every other page. From the hysterical dialogue and events, the hysterical characters, this book was very, very well done and I thoroughly enjoyed every word of it.

The characters were hilarious, as I’ve said, and written very well. Rather than act realistically, these characters lean towards behavior and dialogue you might find in a younger children’s book—which fit right in with the plotline.

( Page 22: “Tootie?” shouted Mr. Tickham from the back door. “Tootie, I’m hungry!” 

Tootie? 

What a ridiculous name. 

Flora couldn’t resist the urge to say it out loud. “Tootie,” she said. “Tootie Tickham. Listen, Tootie. Go inside. Feed your husband. Say nothing to him or anyone else about any of this.”

“Right,” said Tootie. “Say nothing. Feed my husband. Okay, right.” She began walking slowly towards the house.) 

Additionally, I loved Flora’s exclamations: “Holy bagumba!” “Holy unanticipated occurances!”

Yet, despite their fantasy-like behavior, the true emotions of the characters surge forward, and the result is a combination and a character you’ll never forget.

Negative Content/Notes:

None.

Overall:

I found this a great read, full of interesting characters, a superhero squirrel, LOTS of illustrations and a super-fun storyline. I will definitely be rereading this soon and would recommend to anyone looking for a quick, fun read!

Rating: 4.5

Recommended to: Anyone and everyone!

 

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Posted on by J.C.

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Title: Rules

Author: Cynthia Lord

Published By: Scholastic Press (2006)

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She’s spent years trying to teach David the rules-from “a peach is not a funny-looking apple” to “keep your pants on in public”-in order to stop his embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, and Kristi, the next-door friend she’s always wished for, it’s her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal? (Taken from Goodreads)

 

Review: 

This was an incredible book! The characters were so vivid. You love them; you laugh with them, you cry with them. You relate and sympathize with Catherine, and you smile at David, and then you smile bigger when Jason comes into the scene.

Personally, Jason was my favorite character. He was written so well, that beyond his disorder you see him as a normal kid, reminding me of Melody from Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. I loved his hidden personality, his ambition, his friendship with Catherine.

And David. David was written very well too. This book truly captured the reality of autism and the other disorders, to the point where I came off this book knowing more than I did before. David as a character was realistic and loveable. Even though we see him through Catherine’s eyes and her perspective that he is rather annoying, you still love him.

Catherine’s character was probably the best done of them all. We see the world through her eyes; her emotions and feelings are one hundred percent realistic and believable, and we love her for her kind spirit and her good heart; that even when she thinks things that aren’t the nicest, we know she doesn’t truly mean it and it isn’t who she is—it’s just her way of trying to express her complicated emotions.

The author just did an amazing job with this book. Even though there’s no action, this book was written beautifully—just capturing a few weeks in the mind of a girl like Catherine.

Negative Content:

None.

Overall:

This was one of those books that ended too soon…I just wanted to keep reading about David and Catherine and Jason forever. I just LOVED Rules!

Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Recommended to: All ages!

The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O’Dell

The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O’Dell

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Title: The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates, #1)

Author: Nicole O’Dell

Published By: Barbour Books (2011)

Synopsis:

This book focuses on sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield. Her father died in a car accident years ago, and ever since she’s been dealing with her stepfather’s abuse. When it becomes too much, she turns to smoking and alcohol as a way to deal with the prolbem. Only when her so-called best friend, Jordyn, dies in a car accident does she start to see the truth of the horrible life she’s been living. When offered a place at Diamond Estates, a place for troubled girls to come find healing in Christ, she finally starts to see the path to recovery might exist.


Review:

Wow. I just finished this book for the second time, and it was amazing! The characters are so vividly drawn, you feel like you know them, and it makes you happy to have such a long book with them. Rather than just a scene, you have over 300 pages—months and months in the storyline—with the characters that you come to love.

This series as a whole is a very mature set of books; it covers topics such as teen pregnancy in a later book, but they are incredibly clean, wholesome, and appropriate, not to mention totally Christian books (which I am incredibly grateful for)—though not hiding from the character’s blatant realities, either. It was real but also clean.

I loved so many things about this book. Besides the characters being amazing in every sense, I also loved the setting the author chose. Diamond Estates is painted beautifully, with its mission being so incredible, that you just want to just believe it exists in real life. I loved how the author wrote in Ben and Alicia’s characters as the guys to look to when you need help, but also the fun leaders, wanting ultimately the best for the girls there. I loved the way the Christian message was so clear in the narrative perspective, but Olivia still takes some convincing. Sometimes this kind of thing can come off cheesy, but I found this book realistic and believable.

Olivia was such a fun character, easy to love, easy to relate to, easy to think she actually exists. The book is written in third person, but we enter Olivia’s mind so much that I often forgot and thought it was from first person! You really find yourself understanding Olivia after just a few chapters and while you want to shout at her, “No! Why are you doing that? Don’t do that!” you also, at the same time, understand her thought process behind it—which makes the Diamond Estates section of the book so much more amazing. You feel you can connect with her so well—when she’s worried, you’re worried. She’s scared, your heart starts racing. When she’s happy, you smile.

I loved Ju-Ju, Skye, and Tricia, Olivia’s roommates, as well; they were painted just perfectly: your average fun-loving teenagers, great friends, and such fun personalities that you don’t even want to know why they’re at Diamond Estates. The four of them just slid together as friends, and you can’t help but cheer on their friendship.

The ending was phenomenal, too. I loved the way it all played out, and the way it just all fit together perfectly once Olivia just let go and trusted God.

Negative Content/Notes:

None.

Overall:

Anyway, to sum it up, an amazing, incredible book by an extremely talented author. One of my all-time favorites for sure.

Rating: 5.0

Recommended to: Ages 13+