Loralee Evans's Blog: Loralee Evans, page 14
February 1, 2023
Adventurers Wanted: Slathbog's Gold by M. L. Forman
Adventurers Wanted: Slathbog's Gold by M. L. Forman is an interesting and fun read that many young people from middle school to high school would find interesting.
Alex is walking home when he sees a strange sign in a shop window that keeps changing! When he walks into the shop to ask the owner how the sign keeps changing, he finds himself wisked away on an adventure in a magical land! He teams up with a group much like the Fellowship in The Lord of The Rings, and goes on a quest to kill a dragon that has been terrorizing the nearby lands. Will Alex and his group succeed? Read the book and find out!
Alex is walking home when he sees a strange sign in a shop window that keeps changing! When he walks into the shop to ask the owner how the sign keeps changing, he finds himself wisked away on an adventure in a magical land! He teams up with a group much like the Fellowship in The Lord of The Rings, and goes on a quest to kill a dragon that has been terrorizing the nearby lands. Will Alex and his group succeed? Read the book and find out!
January 3, 2023
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, another great story by Roald Dahl, gives us the story of brave but poor little Charlie Bucket.
He's a sweet boy from a poor family that is made up of himself, his parents, and his four grandparents. Despite the allure and promise of a golden ticket in a bar of Wonka's Chocolate which will get him a free tour of the nearby Wonka Candy Factory, he has little hope of finding one since his family doesn't have hardly any money to spend on candy. But what happens when he finds some money in the gutter and buys himself a couple bars of chocolate? Read the book and find out!
He's a sweet boy from a poor family that is made up of himself, his parents, and his four grandparents. Despite the allure and promise of a golden ticket in a bar of Wonka's Chocolate which will get him a free tour of the nearby Wonka Candy Factory, he has little hope of finding one since his family doesn't have hardly any money to spend on candy. But what happens when he finds some money in the gutter and buys himself a couple bars of chocolate? Read the book and find out!
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Poor James! His parents are dead (eaten up by a rhino) and he has had to go live with his horrible aunts, Aunt Spiker, and Aunt Sponge who are awful to him. What will James do? Well, in James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, we get to find out!
After tiny magical squigglies, given to him by a myterious stranger escape, James thinks his luck is all gone. But them something happens to the old peach tree in front of his aunts' house! Will James find a way to escape his wicked aunts with the help of some new, and magical friends? Read the book to find out!
After tiny magical squigglies, given to him by a myterious stranger escape, James thinks his luck is all gone. But them something happens to the old peach tree in front of his aunts' house! Will James find a way to escape his wicked aunts with the help of some new, and magical friends? Read the book to find out!
Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary
Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary is a fun story for kids, and adults who remember what it was like to be a kid!
From standing up to bullies who swear, to playing "brick factory" with her friend, Howie, Ramona feels like she's ready to face anything! But then she realizes that her first grade teacher is nothing like her kindergarten teacher, and she's not sure how to handle that. And then, she gets chased by a dog on her way to school! Ramona starts to think she's not as brave as she thought. But can she figure a way out, or at least a way to cope with her difficult situations? Follow Ramona on her journeys, and find out!
From standing up to bullies who swear, to playing "brick factory" with her friend, Howie, Ramona feels like she's ready to face anything! But then she realizes that her first grade teacher is nothing like her kindergarten teacher, and she's not sure how to handle that. And then, she gets chased by a dog on her way to school! Ramona starts to think she's not as brave as she thought. But can she figure a way out, or at least a way to cope with her difficult situations? Follow Ramona on her journeys, and find out!
December 4, 2022
Tiny Tim from Dickens' A Christmas Carol
Tiny Tim, one of the most well known characters from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, is a little boy, the son of Ebenezer Scrooge's clerk, Bob Cratchit.
He has an illness that has weakened his legs, and made it impossible for him to walk unassisted, requiring the little boy to use a small crutch wherever he goes on his own. He is a sweet boy who proclaims, "God bless us, everyone!", perhaps the most well known line from the book. As readers of the book know, Tiny Tim, who has either rickets, or likely renal tubular acidosis, though the disease is never named in the story, would otherwise die but for the change of heart Mr. Scrooge undergoes, giving Bob a better salary and therefore enough money to have Tiny Tim treated. The little boy's character is vital to the story in that without him, Scrooge's change would seem to be done only to save himself, and the terrible fate awaiting his soul after death. Because of Tim being there, we witness Scrooge's growing compassion for others, and his need to change to help others as well as himself. Because of this, despite the fact that Tim Cratchit is a fairly minor character, his presence is vital for the message of the story to come across, and for Scrooge to be seen as a truly changed man who has learned to be selfless and giving.
He has an illness that has weakened his legs, and made it impossible for him to walk unassisted, requiring the little boy to use a small crutch wherever he goes on his own. He is a sweet boy who proclaims, "God bless us, everyone!", perhaps the most well known line from the book. As readers of the book know, Tiny Tim, who has either rickets, or likely renal tubular acidosis, though the disease is never named in the story, would otherwise die but for the change of heart Mr. Scrooge undergoes, giving Bob a better salary and therefore enough money to have Tiny Tim treated. The little boy's character is vital to the story in that without him, Scrooge's change would seem to be done only to save himself, and the terrible fate awaiting his soul after death. Because of Tim being there, we witness Scrooge's growing compassion for others, and his need to change to help others as well as himself. Because of this, despite the fact that Tim Cratchit is a fairly minor character, his presence is vital for the message of the story to come across, and for Scrooge to be seen as a truly changed man who has learned to be selfless and giving.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, upon which so many movies have been based, is a thought provoking and uplifting story about redemption. Ebenezer Scrooge is a selfish, miserly gentleman of middle years who goes about life looking out for himself and no one else.
We first meet Mr. Scrooge on a Christmas Eve in the early Victorian Era in his counting house. It has been 7 years since his business partner, Jacob Marley, a man much like himself in thoughts and feelings, died. Mr. Scrooge is impatient with his clerk, Bob Cratchit, dismissive to his nephew Fred, and rude to two gentlemen who stop in seeking donations for a charity that helps the poor. After work, he goes home, and is startled when the knocker on the front of his door seems to take on Jacob Marley's face for a moment. But then the moment passes, and he goes inside. What happens after is well known to fans of A Christmas Carol. Jacob Marley's ghost visits him, and tells him that if he doesn't change his ways he will end up miserable and in chains for the rest of eternity, just like Mr. Marley. To help convince Scrooge, Marley sends three other ghosts, the Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future Christmas to remind Scrooge of what is really important in his life. One of the important characters is Tiny Tim, whose presence helps readers see that Mr. Scrooge's change is not done just because of concern for his own welfare, but for the welfare and benefit of others. It is a great story that I highly recommend to adults and to children. The book was first published in 1843.
We first meet Mr. Scrooge on a Christmas Eve in the early Victorian Era in his counting house. It has been 7 years since his business partner, Jacob Marley, a man much like himself in thoughts and feelings, died. Mr. Scrooge is impatient with his clerk, Bob Cratchit, dismissive to his nephew Fred, and rude to two gentlemen who stop in seeking donations for a charity that helps the poor. After work, he goes home, and is startled when the knocker on the front of his door seems to take on Jacob Marley's face for a moment. But then the moment passes, and he goes inside. What happens after is well known to fans of A Christmas Carol. Jacob Marley's ghost visits him, and tells him that if he doesn't change his ways he will end up miserable and in chains for the rest of eternity, just like Mr. Marley. To help convince Scrooge, Marley sends three other ghosts, the Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future Christmas to remind Scrooge of what is really important in his life. One of the important characters is Tiny Tim, whose presence helps readers see that Mr. Scrooge's change is not done just because of concern for his own welfare, but for the welfare and benefit of others. It is a great story that I highly recommend to adults and to children. The book was first published in 1843.
A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart- Movie Review
A Christmas Carol with , directed by , and produced in 1999 is one of my most favorite versions of Charles Dickens' classic tale by the same name.
Patrick Stewart plays Ebenezer Scrooge exceptionally well, and the other actors do equally fantastic in their rolls, from Fred, Mr. Scrooge's nephew, played by , to Mrs. Cratchit, Bob Cratchit's clever and supportive wife, played by . The story follows Mr. Scrooge's journey through his past, present, and potential future, guided all the way by the ghosts sent to him through Jacob Marley's intervention in Mr. Marley's attempt to keep his friend from ending up chained with an eternity of regret for not changing his selfish ways while he had the chance. There was only one thing I didn't like about the movie, and that was that we never see Mr. Scrooge apologize to the two gentlemen he was rude to, the night before. But the rest of the movie I thoroughly enjoyed. And I highly recommend it to adults as well as children.
Patrick Stewart plays Ebenezer Scrooge exceptionally well, and the other actors do equally fantastic in their rolls, from Fred, Mr. Scrooge's nephew, played by , to Mrs. Cratchit, Bob Cratchit's clever and supportive wife, played by . The story follows Mr. Scrooge's journey through his past, present, and potential future, guided all the way by the ghosts sent to him through Jacob Marley's intervention in Mr. Marley's attempt to keep his friend from ending up chained with an eternity of regret for not changing his selfish ways while he had the chance. There was only one thing I didn't like about the movie, and that was that we never see Mr. Scrooge apologize to the two gentlemen he was rude to, the night before. But the rest of the movie I thoroughly enjoyed. And I highly recommend it to adults as well as children.
Mickey's Christmas Carol- Movie Review
Mickey's Christmas Carol, produced by Disney in 1983 and directed by Burney Mattinson is a fun version of the classic tale.
Scrooge McDuck plays the cantankerous Ebenezer Scrooge while Mickey Mouse plays the likable and long suffering Bob Cratchit. Various well known Disney characters step in to play the roles of the Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future, as well as other characters. Children especially will like the movie. It is produced with children in mind with well known Disney characters, fun colors and scenes, and vocabulary at their level. But adults will enjoy it as well, especially the uplifting message of the story.
Scrooge McDuck plays the cantankerous Ebenezer Scrooge while Mickey Mouse plays the likable and long suffering Bob Cratchit. Various well known Disney characters step in to play the roles of the Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future, as well as other characters. Children especially will like the movie. It is produced with children in mind with well known Disney characters, fun colors and scenes, and vocabulary at their level. But adults will enjoy it as well, especially the uplifting message of the story.
The Muppets' Christmas Carol- Movie Review
The Muppets' Christmas Carol, directed by Brian Henson and produced in 1992 is a thoroughly delightful movie that children and adults will enjoy.
The movie follows Ebenezer Scrooge's journey through the night of Christmas Eve as he meets first with Jacob Marley, then the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. The colors, sets, and costumes are lovely, and the actors do a splendid job. I highly recommend this movie for fans of A Christmas Carol. Both adults and children who love the story will love this version of it, as well!
The movie follows Ebenezer Scrooge's journey through the night of Christmas Eve as he meets first with Jacob Marley, then the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. The colors, sets, and costumes are lovely, and the actors do a splendid job. I highly recommend this movie for fans of A Christmas Carol. Both adults and children who love the story will love this version of it, as well!
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol- Movie Review
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, directed by Abe Levitow and produced in 1962, follows the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge from the book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Mr. Scrooge is warned by his deceased partner, Jacob Marley to change his ways or end up like Marley has, a tormented spirit, chained up with regrets that he did not help others during his lifetime. In this version, the order of the spirits that come to Scrooge are out of order which bothered me a little, but not enough to enjoy the story. Children and adults who enjoy Christmas stories, including A Christmas Carol, will enjoy this movie.
Mr. Scrooge is warned by his deceased partner, Jacob Marley to change his ways or end up like Marley has, a tormented spirit, chained up with regrets that he did not help others during his lifetime. In this version, the order of the spirits that come to Scrooge are out of order which bothered me a little, but not enough to enjoy the story. Children and adults who enjoy Christmas stories, including A Christmas Carol, will enjoy this movie.
Loralee Evans
Hello, I am the author of The King's Heir, and The Birthright, both published by Cedar Fort. They are based on stories from the Book of Mormon, and both have similar characters in them, though either
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