Loralee Evans's Blog: Loralee Evans, page 20

Adventures In Odyssey!

Adventures in Odyssey is a series of radio programs that are fun, wholesome, and Christian based that have been produced since 1987 to the present. Mr. Whittaker and his friends have various adventures in and around his shop named Whit's End, which is an ice cream shop and adventure emporium. Every episode teaches a bibilical moral like honesty, courage, gratitude, etc. The series reminds me of the Veggie Tales shows, and has a similar, uplifting goal. I highly recommend these wonderful programs for kids and adults!

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown is an absolutely delightful book about Roz the robot and her adventures after she has returned to the world of humans. She has been found on her island where she has lived happily with her adopted son Brightbill and her other animals friends. To keep he beloved island from being ransacked by the aggressive robots who will keep returning for her no matter how manys she fights off, she's returned to the world of humans, and has been given a job on a farm. The humans she works for are fair and kind, but she hasn't forgotten her island home or the friends she's left there. When the children who live on the farm find out that she has independent thought and misses her island home, they want to help. But will they be able to? And more importantly, can Roz even get back home without being captured again? Read this wonderful story, and find out!The Wild Robot Escapes was published in 2017.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown is a delightful book aimed at children, but which can still be enjoyed just as much by adults. When a cargo ship sinks, a crate carrying a robot washes up on an island uninhabited by humans. Rozum Unit 7134 is activated by a family of otters who accidentally push a button on the back of her head. Roz, as she requests to be called, is programs to learn languages, help others, and survive. As she does all these things, without any interaction with humans, she begins to become more and more self aware. She makes friend with animals, and when her explorations of a cliffside lead her to accidentally cause a rockfall that kills a family of geese, leaving one unhatch egg as the sole survivor, she adopts the egg. But what happens when her makers send a pack of robots to the island to find out what happened to the cargo ship, and all their lost robots? Read the book and find out! The Wild Robot was first published in 2016.

A Caterer's Guide to Holidays and Homicide by Jessica Thompson

I am excited to let you know about my friend Jessica Thompson's newest book, A Caterer's Guide to Holdiays and Homicide! If you enjoy Holidays, and if you enjoy murder mysteries, read on! Deck the halls…with a personal chef, a snowed-in lodge, and a sprinkling of murder! “Watch the knives!” While acting as personal chef for a friend’s mountain retreat, Violet and her husband, Jake, must set aside their stress over infertility and create a magical and delicious holiday – until tragedy crashes the party. Being snowed in and unreachable from town, Violet and Jake end up hired for a different kind of job – finding out which of the guests committed murder and why they’re trying to frame their hostess. Violet must find a balance between following her gut and keeping it all under control until the police can reach them, while still managing the kitchen. But can she sniff out the killer before anyone else bites the big one? A Caterer’s Guide to Holidays and Homicide will give you a culinary holiday you won’t forget!

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving is a favorite Halloween story of many people in much the same way that The Night Before Christmas and A Christmas Carol are beloved Christmas stories. Poor Ichabod Crane is picked on and bullied by Brom Bones. Ichabod wants to marry Katrina VanTassel, as much for her money as for her, but Brom wants Katrina for himself! Ichabod has a supersticious streak, and believes in all sorts of supernatural things. Brom knows this. So what happens after one Halloween feast when Ichabod, broken hearted from Katrina's break up, is headed home at midnight? Something is waiting for him in the woods! And it isn't very friendly...

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling is the exciting 3rd book in the Harry Potter series. A prisoner has escaped from the notorious and seemingly inescapable wizards' prison of Azkaban just as Harry's 3rd year at Hogwarts is beginning. If that's not bad enough, the prisoner is accusing of killing Harry's parents, and seems to be after Harry himself! What's a 13 year old wizard to do? At least this year's defense against the dark arts teacher is competent. But will Professor Lupin, the other teachers, and his friends be able to help Harry fend off a crazed murderer? Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was first published in 1999.

Ranger's Apprentice Book 2: The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan

Ranger's Apprentice: The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan is an exciting fantasy adventure geared toward young teens, but exciting for anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure. Halt and Will have been a great team of master and apprentice, but when Will has to go as an ambassador to the north will he be able to do what needs to be done? Especially when Lord Morgareth does something sinister and unexpected from his hide out in the Mountains of Rain and Night? The story has very little down time, and moves at a quick pace. It also has a twist at the end that will lead into the next books. The Burning Bridge was first published in 2006.

The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore

The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore (only 5.99 right non Kindle!) is based on the true story of Bob Inama, an American soldierand Luisa Voigt, a West German woman who work to help people escape across the Berlin Wall. Bob is glad to speak fluent German, and to use his skills to help people. But what happens when Bob is caught and sent to an East German prison? Read this exciting book to find out! Heather Moore is a great writer who creates exciting, suspenseful stories with believable, interesting characters who are as real to me as if I knew them in real life. If you enjoy historical fiction with a gripping, fast paced plot, you will enjoy The Slow March of Light!

Adventurers Wanted: Slathbog's Gold by M.L. Foreman

When 15 year old Alex sees a sign in the window of a cluttered bookshop advertising for adventurers to apply within, he doesn't think much of it until he looks away, looks back, and the sign has changed! Wanting to find out what sort of mechanism changes the sign, he goes inside to ask the shop owner about it. Before he knows it, he's whisked off on an unexpected adventure, making friends with elves, dwarves, and others, and on his way to battle a dragon who's been terrorizing the countryside! While I found the story a bit predictable, and the characters somewhat one-dimentional, it is overall an enjoyable story that middle grade to YA readers would enjoy. Slathbog's Gold by M.L. Foreman was first published in 2009.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling follows the adventures of 12 year old Harry Potter and his friends during his second year at Hogwarts. Someone or something is attacking muggleborn witches and wizards and petrifying them! Even Nearly Headless Nick, a ghost, has been petrified! Who or what could do that to someone who's already dead? As Harry and his friends work to solve this mystery before someone is killed, they find themselves deeper and deeper in danger! Will they be able to solve the mystery and defeat the heir of Slytherin before someone is killed? Read this exciting middle grade novel and find out! Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was first published in 1999.