Loralee Evans's Blog: Loralee Evans, page 39

The Zion Trail by Marsha Ward

The Zion Trail (c) 2016 by Marsha WardThe Zion Trail by Marsha Ward is a fun, historical novel about young Elijah Marshall and his family, and their struggles, losses, tragedies and triumphs after they meet a couple of Mormon Missionaries, and convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The book begins in the early 1800s when Elijah, or "Lije" is fifteen, and follows him through the next several years as he and his family head west with the rest of the Mormons. The going is not easy for Lije, and he suffers loss and grief along the way. But he also grows in unexpected ways, and discovers that he hasn't quite lost as much as he thought.

I recommend the book to LDS historical fiction lovers, and to anyone who enjoys a good historical novel set in west. 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow a short story by Washington Irving, first published in 1820 is a story about Ichabod Crane, a school teacher, originally from Connecticut, who moves to Sleepy Hollow, a small town not far from the Hudson River.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (c) 1820
by Washington IrvingIchabod is a funny guy, who looks not unlike a crane, being very skinny, with a beak-like nose, and long limbs. He is also given to superstitions, believes in witches, and is frightened of what he fears is out in the dark. This makes his walks home at night a bit scary for him. But otherwise, Ichabod's adventures wouldn't have been all that noteworthy, if Katrina VanTassel hadn't gotten in his path. He takes a liking to her, and also her father's vast farm which Katrina will inherit someday, but Brom VanBrunt, one of the local lads, has already taken a liking to her. 
What happens after a Halloween party at Katrina's (in which she finally makes her disinterest in Ichabod painfully clear) is the main climax of the story, and my favorite part.
The story is often labeled as "horror" but, to me at least, the story is not remotely scary, and is actually quite hilarious. The language, as expected of something written in the early 1800s, is a little old fashioned. Some readers may need a dictionary for some of the old words, but for the most part, even unfamiliar words become understandable, as the meanings of the words tend to be made clear in the context of the sentences in which they are found.
Washington Irving's style is humorous, and often witty and playfully scarcastic. I enjoyed the story immensely, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys classical stories.

Spirit Animals Book 4: Fire and Ice by Shannon Hale

Spirit Animals Book 4: Fire and Ice
(c) 2014
by Shannon HaleBook 4 of Spirit Animals, published in 2014, written by Shannon Hale, continues the adventures of Abeke, Rollan, Connor, and Meilin. This time, they're traveling to the frozen north to find their next great beast, a polar bear and its medallion which will help them in their fight against the Conquerers. And of course, the Conquerers, are always just a few steps behind the kids, trying to get their own hands on the medallions of the great beasts. Plus, the Conquerers are coming up with their own version of the nectar, a liquid that assists in helping young people bond with spirit animals, if it's their fate to so, but rather than nectar that simply assists in the bonding, they've invented bile, which actually forces a bond with a spirit animal, and what trouble that will lead to in the future, is anyone's guess!

The Spirit Animals series is a fun set of books for young kids, and young middle grade readers, from 8 to 12 who enjoy fantasy adventure, will enjoy this series.

Spirit Animals Book 3: Blood Ties by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

Spirit Animals Book 3: Blood Ties
(c) 2014
by Garth Nix and Sean WilliamsSpirit Animals Book 3 by Garth Nix and Sean Williams continues the quest of the four kids, Connor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan. The story starts with the friends separated though, as Meilin has gone looking for her father, took a wrong turn in the massive bamboo maze, and is lost. Meanwhile, the Conquerers are taking over cities in Erdas and oppressing the people. In this book, the kids are trying to find their third Great Beast, an elephant this time, get its cooperation (hopefully) and borrow its medallion. But it's not so easy to get to, being located in a swamp filled with giant crocodiles. And of course, the Conquerers aren't going to make it any easier for the kids! If you enjoy adventure stories for kids, you will enjoy this book!

The Sound of Music performed by Stansbury High School Drama

The Stansbury High School Drama department, led by Mr. Glen
Carpenter, is currently performing The Sound of Music, which had performances May 4, and 5 and will continue to have performances May 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15. Tickets for all remaining performances can be purchased by following the link HERE. All days will have performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. and there will be two performances on the 12th, including a matinee at 2:00 p.m.

The Sound of Music was adapted from the memoir The Story of The Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp and was made into a stage play in 1959 then later into a movie in 1965, starring Julie Andrews.

The plot of The Sound of Music follows the adventures of Maria who first plans on becoming a nun, but after becoming the governess of the von Trapp family, a large brood of children, and then falling in love with them, and with their widowed father, she changes her plans. Shortly after their wedding however, the family's plans are further changed when Nazis invade their beloved Austria and want to recruit Mr. von Trapp into their navy. He doesn't agree with Nazi philosophies, and so what is the family to do?

I attended the opening performance of The Sound of Music, and it was wonderfully done. Everyone in the cast and crew did a fantastic job with the performance, and I highly recommend it!

Mrs. Mona Farnsworth who taught Drama at Duchesne High School before she retired had nothing but praise for Mr. Glen Carpenter, having gotten to know him when she and he were on a board together quite a few years ago. By watching the plays he has directed, I can see why. I think it is fantastic that he is helping young people hone their skills and build confidence in their abilities and in themselves through drama!

The Stansbury High School Drama department, led by Mr. Gl...

The Stansbury High School Drama department, led by Mr. Glen
Carpenter, is currently performing The Sound of Music, which had performances May 4, and 5 and will continue to have performances May 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15. Tickets for all remaining performances can be purchased by following the link HERE. All days will have performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. and there will be two performances on the 12th, including a matinee at 2:00 p.m.

The Sound of Music was adapted from the memoir The Story of The Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp and was made into a stage play in 1959 then later into a movie in 1965, starring Julie Andrews.

The plot of The Sound of Music follows the adventures of Maria who first plans on becoming a nun, but after becoming the governess of the von Trapp family, a large brood of children, and then falling in love with them, and with their widowed father, she changes her plans. Shortly after their wedding however, the family's plans are further changed when Nazis invade their beloved Austria and want to recruit Mr. von Trapp into their navy. He doesn't agree with Nazi philosophies, and so what is the family to do?

I attended the opening performance of The Sound of Music, and it was wonderfully done. Everyone in the cast and crew did a fantastic job with the performance, and I highly recommend it!

Mrs. Mona Farnsworth who taught Drama at Duchesne High School before she retired had nothing but praise for Mr. Glen Carpenter, having gotten to know him when she and he were on a board together quite a few years ago. By watching the plays he has directed, I can see why. I think it is fantastic that he is helping young people hone their skills and build confidence in their abilities and in themselves through drama!

Whitney Awards Gala, May 5, 2018

On Saturday, May 5, 2018, I attended the 10th annual Whitney Awards Gala, an awards ceremony honoring outstanding achievement in LDS writing. There are 10 categories, Middle Grade, Young Adult General, Young Adult Speculative, Young Adult Fantasy, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Romance, Historical Romance, and Speculative Fiction. There is also an Outstanding Achievement Award given, an award for Best Novel by a Debut Author, Novel of the Year in Youth Fiction, and Novel of the Year in Adult Fiction.

Author Robison WellsThis year, I was very glad to learn that Robison Wells, the guy who came up with the idea initially, received the Outstanding Achievement Award (though he insists that the credit goes to others). I personally think he's very deserving of the award, and am glad it went to him.

The winner of Middle Grade went to Paper Chains by Elaine Vickers. I blogged about it and the other Whitney Finalists in Middle Grade on April 16th. You can read my blogpost about Paper Chains here.

The winner of Young Adult General went to By Your Side by Kasie West.

The winner of Young Adult Speculative went to Ones and Zeroes by Dan Wells.

The winner of Young Adult Fantasy went to Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves.

The winner of General Fiction went to The Fattest Mormon by Tyson Abaroa.

The winner of Historical Fiction was Condemn Me Not by Heather Moore. I read this book earlier in 2017, and really enjoyed it. I'm glad it won!

The winner of Mystery/Suspense was Safe House by Traci Hunter Abramson.

The winner of Romance was Lies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright. Julie Wright is a great friend of mine, and I am very pleased that her book won!

The winner of Historical Romance was Love Remains by Sarah M. Eden.

The winner of Speculative Fiction was The Fifth Doll by Charlie N. Holmberg.

The Best Novel By A Debut Author went to The Hundreth Queen by Emily R. King.
And the Novel of the Year in Youth Fiction also went to The Hundreth Queen by Emily R. King. I loved this, because Ms. King (just one table away from me) had just accepted her award for Best Novel by a Debut Author and had barely sat down, breathing a relieve sigh, when she was called back to the podium again! I haven't read The Hundreth Queen, but I would bet it's a fantastic book!

The Best Novel of the Year in Adult Fiction went to Safe House by Traci Hunter Abramson.

Congratulations to all the Whitney Award Winners for 2017!

Spirit Animals Book 2: Hunted by Maggie Stiefvater

Spirit Animals Book 2: Hunted
(c) 2014 by Maggie StiefvaterThe kids who started their adventures in Spirit Animals Book 1: Wild Born by Brandon Mull continue their adventures in Spirit Animals Book 2: Hunted by Maggie Stiefvater.

Now, they're after the Rumphus the Boar and his talisman, but getting to the boar won't be easy. The Conquerers have plans of their own, and Connor, Rollan, Abeka and Meilin aren't prepared for what the Conquerers are willing to do.

They find themselves in Glen Gavin in their quest for Rumphus, but find themselves dealing not only with a strict, by the book Lord of the Castle, as well as a vindictive enemy to Connor who didn't get a beast of his own, and has now joined the Conquerers.

The book ends on a bit of cliffhanger, but don't despair, because book 3 continues the story!

I recommend this book and the first book Spirit Animals Book 1: Wild Born by Brandon Mull to young readers as well as not so young readers who enjoy middle grade fantasy.

Justin Morgan Had A Horse by Marguerite Henry

Justin Morgan had a Horse (c) 1945 by Marguerite HenryJustin Morgan Had A Horse by Marguerite Henry is an enjoyable story about a horse initially known as "Little Bub" who is given from Farmer Bean to Justin Morgan, a school teacher, as payment for some debts. Justin gives the responsibility of the little horse to Joel, one of his students, and a lifelong friendship begins, including the horse being unexpectedly sold away to parts unknown, and Joel being enlisted in the war of 1812. Will Joel and Little Bub ever be reunited?

This is a sweet and entertaining book with a few scenes of war, peril, and death. But these are not scenes on which the story dwells to heavily. I recommend it to people who love stories about animals, especially horses, and sweet relationships between humans and creatures.

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

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (first published in 1952)
Voyage of the Dawn Treader (c) 1952 by C. S. Lewisis an entertaining fantasy adventure for young and old, continuing the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Seasoned veterans, Edmund and Lucy come back to Narnia. The brother and sister have lots of experience with magic and travel between their world and Narnia. But this time, their cousin Eustace Scrubb gets pulled along as well.

It all starts in their cousin Eustace's house when the three of them see a picture of a ship on the wall that begins to move. Before they know it, they're pulled through the picture and into Narnia, or rather, the ocean east of Narnia where they are pulled out of the water and onto the deck of The Dawn Treader. Edmund and Lucy are thrilled to be back (this is their third trip to Narnia) and are especially glad to see their old friend Caspian with whom they had an adventure on their previous trip.

Eustace, however, has an entirely different reaction to being suddenly and magically pulled into a different world. He didn't have much of an imagination to begin with, and to find himself on the deck of a ship in Narnia leaves him extremely traumatized and threatening all sorts of legal action against his new companions.

But will his trip to Narnia and his adventures with Caspian and the others ever change his heart? Read the book and find out! I recommend this book to readers young and old who enjoy fantasy and adventure!