Book of the Month December 2012

The Blue Sword

By Robin McKinley

 

Fantasy.  Adventure.  Romance.  Just a taste of what is all included in The Blue Sword.  When Harry is taken from the Residence by the king of the Hillfolk, she is astounded at what she becomes, and the connections that she feels.  Corlath, the king, does not know why he had to take her, but his kelar, or gift, told him to and gave him no rest until he did.  What he discovers in Harry is not only kelar or romance, but also one chosen by Lady Aerin to save their people. 

Book of the Month November 2012

The Last Battle

By C.S. Lewis

 

The Last Battle is exactly that and to say too much more would ruin it, as it would tell the whole end.  However, it is a good read and worthwhile to get to the very end of the book, which is my favorite part.  There you will find all the heroes of Narnia come together as one – minus one, that is.

Book of the Month October 2012

The Silver Chair

By C.S. Lewis

 

The Silver Chair continues the Narnia series as Eustace and Jill find Narnia together and must help rescue Prince Rillian, heir to the Narnian throne.  Caspian is an old many now, and Rillian is his grandson.  They must face the evil queen of the underworld and her nasty little helpers.

Book of the Month September 2012

The Horse and His Boy
By C.S. Lewis

While the four Penvensie children are still kings and queens in Narnia, this story shows some of the things that the royalty came up against during the Golden Age of Narnia. It is the story of two children, along with their talking horses, who escape from the Colormans and find their true homes.  

Book of the Month August 2012

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
By C.S. Lewis

Edmund and Lucy are stuck with their annoying cousin Eustace, who teases them about Narnia - that is, until the three of them are cast into Narnia through a picture and find themselves aboard the Dawn Treader with Prince Caspian.  Caspian is in search of the seven missing lords who were banished by Miraz.  Along the way, however, they come up against things they could not even imagine as they sail closer and closer to the edge of the world in search of Aslan's country.  The story ends with sad news for Edmund and Lucy.

Book of the Month July 2012

Prince Caspian
By C.S. Lewis

This story takes place a year after the Penvensies return from their first Narnia adventure – but only a year in our world’s time.  Narnian clocks tick a bit differently, and when Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are pulled back to Narnia, they have become mere legends among the people.  They find their old home in ruins and Narnia once again in trouble. Their goal: to help the young Prince Caspian overthrow the evil Miraz, his own uncle.  Together with other Narnians they battle Miraz and his army, ending with sad news for Peter and Susan.  

Book of the Month June 2012

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
By C.S. Lewis

The second of the Narnia series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe introduce the four Pevensies, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, who, while in the house of the Professor (a much older Digory), find Narnia through a wardrobe in a spare room.  Queen Jadis returns as the White Witch, Queen of Narnia.  The four children, together with Aslan and his followers, must conquer the White Witch.  Many dangers ensue until they burst back out of the wardrobe into the spare room.

Book of the Month May 2012

The Magician's Nephew

By C.S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew begins the adventures of Narnia, as Digory and Polly are tricked by Digory's uncle, a minor magician.  When they find themselves in another world, Charn, they make the mistake of waking the evil queen Jadis, who follows them back to their world and later to Narnia, which Aslan is in the midst of creating.  Unknowns lurk at every corner for Digory and Polly until they return to their own world for good.

Book of the Month April 2012

Johnny Tremain

By Esther Forbes

Johnny Tremain tells the story of the Revolutionary War’s beginning and how everything unfolded dramatically and affected everyone involved.  You’ll see everything through Johnny’s eyes, an orphan who was making his start as a remarkable silversmith before a terrible accident. You’ll meet characters like Rab, Cilla, and Isannah, each who change visibly throughout the story.  Exciting and of historical value, you’ll have to read it twice. 

Book of the Month March 2012

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

By Mark Twain

You may think that The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is just another boring classic, but I guarantee that it is not.  If you like humorous book and adventure stories, then at least give it a try.   You’ll meet Huckleberry Finn, who helps Tom with his adventures and gets into mischief right along with him.  The two boys even attend their own funeral!   There’s danger, suspense, friendship, and adventure abounding in this book, not to mention some little-kid romance between Tom and Becky.  

Book of the Month February 2012

A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L’Engle

A Wrinkle in Time is a novel about three children, Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace, who travel through time and space to other planets by “wrinkling” to find Meg and Charles Wallace’s father.  Along the way you will meet intriguing characters such as Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit and Mrs. Which.  They have to go through many adventures and trials to accomplish their mission, and to say more would ruin the surprises that Madeleine L’Engle has in store…

Book of the Month January 2012

To Kill a Mockingbird
By Harper Lee

I had to read this book for school and I am very glad I did - I enjoyed it very much.  Taking place in the southern town of Maycomb, Scout (Jean Louise Finch) and Jem (Jeremy Atticus Finch) find themselves growing up quickly one summer.  Their father, Atticus Finch, is a reputable and fair lawyer who is given the case of defending a black man against a white man.  Jem and Scout go from little-kid courage to learning the true meaning of courage, as well as learning not to judge others and to see things from their point of view.  They try to find out the truth about the mysterious "Boo" Radley and almost get killed in this touching and intriguing book.

Book of the Month December 2011

Annie, Between the States
By L.M. Elliot



This is an exciting, humorous, and bittersweet story taking place during the Civil War in the United States.  Annie finds herself torn as her brothers fight on the Confederate side to protect their home state of Virginia and she finds herself falling in love with a Yankee officer whose life she helped to save.  War is all around, and Annie finds their family bombarded with their share of sorrows.  When she is falsely accused of spying, will Annie find marriage to a Yankee an escape from danger or the result of true love?


After-reading prompt: Write an epilogue for this book to show what happens after the war is over.  Will Annie reunite with what is left of her family?  Will Jamie still hate her? Will she have children?  Write whatever you want to happen!