Loralee Evans's Blog: Loralee Evans, page 7
August 1, 2024
Circus of Fear by Rose Estes
Circus of Fear by Rose Estes is a Dungeons and Dragons Choose your Own Adventure book. In it, the reader is the main character, taking the part of the protagonist.
I enjoyed this book, because in this book, the main character is female, and since I'm female, I was more able to relate to the main character. The reader takes the part of Laela, a girl in a medieval fantasy world who is visiting a circus with a friend, Petra. The conflict starts almost immediately when Bombax confronts the children when they're petting a pegasus, chained by her ankle to a peg in the ground. After that, the adventure changes, depending on what the reader chooses to do. I enjoyed this book when I was in 7th and 8th grade, and it is still an enjoyable adventure for young people in middle grades, and adults who enjoy reading middle grade adventures!
I enjoyed this book, because in this book, the main character is female, and since I'm female, I was more able to relate to the main character. The reader takes the part of Laela, a girl in a medieval fantasy world who is visiting a circus with a friend, Petra. The conflict starts almost immediately when Bombax confronts the children when they're petting a pegasus, chained by her ankle to a peg in the ground. After that, the adventure changes, depending on what the reader chooses to do. I enjoyed this book when I was in 7th and 8th grade, and it is still an enjoyable adventure for young people in middle grades, and adults who enjoy reading middle grade adventures!
July 3, 2024
Summer Book Bash! FREE eBooks!
My Book Cave is doing a Summer Book Bash, a book giveaway during the month of July, offering over 60 books for free! The listing includes my book, Felicity~ A Sparrow's Tale. I hope you take a look, and check it out! You can choose any book you like, sign up for the author's newsletter, and then My Book Cave sends the book to you! Check it out, HERE! Or any of the other links in this entry!
Cress by Marissa Meyer
So, to make this review fair, I have to say that I am not finished listening to Cress by Marissa Meyer, the 3rd book in the Lunar Chronicles. But so far, it is great. It begins after Scarlet ends. Cress (patterned after Rapunzel) is stuck on a satellite, high above Earth.
And of course not having seen scissors in years, her hair is super long, like Rapunzel's. She is a Shell, a Lunar (person born on the moon) without special powers. The people of Earth and the people on the Moon are all human, but have lived separate long enough that Lunars, as they're called, have developed special powers in that they can manipulate or influence the minds of others. They can make themselves appear more attractive, for one, and certain Lunars can even manipulate the behavior of others with their minds. Cress cannot do any of those things. But she is really good with computers. So instead of being killed, or being a prisoner on her own planet (regular Lunars despite Shells) she is put in this satellite. She does not agree with Queen Levana, the Queen of Luna, who believes it is her destiny to take over all of the world, and so Cress is sympathetic to Earthens, and wants to help. But she's stuck. Until she's contacted by Cinder, Scarlet, Thorne (a character Cinder escaped prison with) and Wolf. They are aboard Thorn's ship, and will come rescue her, so she can help them fight back against Queen Levana. But are these plans going to go smoothly? This book, so far, like Scarlet, seems to be appropriate for teens and up. Readers who enjoy retellings of old fairy tales will enjoy this story, and Scarlet.
And of course not having seen scissors in years, her hair is super long, like Rapunzel's. She is a Shell, a Lunar (person born on the moon) without special powers. The people of Earth and the people on the Moon are all human, but have lived separate long enough that Lunars, as they're called, have developed special powers in that they can manipulate or influence the minds of others. They can make themselves appear more attractive, for one, and certain Lunars can even manipulate the behavior of others with their minds. Cress cannot do any of those things. But she is really good with computers. So instead of being killed, or being a prisoner on her own planet (regular Lunars despite Shells) she is put in this satellite. She does not agree with Queen Levana, the Queen of Luna, who believes it is her destiny to take over all of the world, and so Cress is sympathetic to Earthens, and wants to help. But she's stuck. Until she's contacted by Cinder, Scarlet, Thorne (a character Cinder escaped prison with) and Wolf. They are aboard Thorn's ship, and will come rescue her, so she can help them fight back against Queen Levana. But are these plans going to go smoothly? This book, so far, like Scarlet, seems to be appropriate for teens and up. Readers who enjoy retellings of old fairy tales will enjoy this story, and Scarlet.
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer is the second book in the Lunar Chronicles. It comes after Cinder. Meyer takes fairy tales and adds a new twist to them. After the first book, in which Cinder (patterned after Cinderella) a cyborg (having been injured in a fire as a toddler) warns Prince Kai that the evil Lunar Queen wants to take his throne and kill him, we meet Scarlet.
Patterned after Little Red Riding Hood, Scarlet is worried about her grandmother who has gone missing. She recruits the help of a street fighter named Wolf who says he can help her find her grandmother, and off they go toward Paris. But can she fully trust Wolf, or does he have secrets he's not telling her about? And what connection does her missing grandmother have to do with Cinder, who has managed to escape prison despite being caught after warning Kai that the Lunar Queen wants to kill him? This book has some violent bits in it, and some kissing, but it is appropriate for teens to read. I recommend it to people who like sci-fi, and enjoy old stories retold in a new way.
Patterned after Little Red Riding Hood, Scarlet is worried about her grandmother who has gone missing. She recruits the help of a street fighter named Wolf who says he can help her find her grandmother, and off they go toward Paris. But can she fully trust Wolf, or does he have secrets he's not telling her about? And what connection does her missing grandmother have to do with Cinder, who has managed to escape prison despite being caught after warning Kai that the Lunar Queen wants to kill him? This book has some violent bits in it, and some kissing, but it is appropriate for teens to read. I recommend it to people who like sci-fi, and enjoy old stories retold in a new way.
June 1, 2024
Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary
In Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary, Ramona is facing a whole new set of trials she never expected to face. Ramona's best friend Howie has an uncle, Uncle Hobart, who has come home from Saudi Arabia and Ramona isn't sure she likes Uncle Hobart's sense of humor.
Her mother is getting suspiciously plump in front, her beloved Aunt Bea starts dating a man that she won't tell her neices about, and to top it all off, a sad event that Ramona has never experienced before, happens to their family. But Ramona, ever innovative and courageous, faces everything with grace and flexibility. This is a great book for families to read, especially when facing big changes like a family member getting married, a new baby in the family, or the loss of a beloved pet. The stories are written with the language and thoughts that a young child would use, and would be able to relate to. Children as well as adults who enjoy looking back on their childhoods will love these stories, and find themselves relating to and cheering on Ramona Quimby!
Her mother is getting suspiciously plump in front, her beloved Aunt Bea starts dating a man that she won't tell her neices about, and to top it all off, a sad event that Ramona has never experienced before, happens to their family. But Ramona, ever innovative and courageous, faces everything with grace and flexibility. This is a great book for families to read, especially when facing big changes like a family member getting married, a new baby in the family, or the loss of a beloved pet. The stories are written with the language and thoughts that a young child would use, and would be able to relate to. Children as well as adults who enjoy looking back on their childhoods will love these stories, and find themselves relating to and cheering on Ramona Quimby!
Ramona Quimby Age 8
In Ramona Quimby Age 8 by Beverly Cleary, Ramona has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Because her dad is going back to school, her mom needs to work. And because her mom needs to work, Ramona needs to stay at Mrs. Kemp's house after school. And Ramona doesn't much like that.
Added to that, the woes of getting egg in her hair, dealing with the teasing of a new boy named Danny, and other embarrassments are almost too much for Ramona to deal with. Will she be able to face her troubles with the same pluck and determination that she has had in the past? Kids and adults who enjoy reading books for kids will love reading this book to find out!
Added to that, the woes of getting egg in her hair, dealing with the teasing of a new boy named Danny, and other embarrassments are almost too much for Ramona to deal with. Will she be able to face her troubles with the same pluck and determination that she has had in the past? Kids and adults who enjoy reading books for kids will love reading this book to find out!
Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary
In Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary, Ramona finds herself navigating the uncertain beginning of first grade with a new teacher, and new responsibilities. Being brave is something she wants, and she thinks she's doing great at it when she tells off a bunch of boys teasing Beezus her sister.
But when they just laugh and Beezus gets mad at her, Ramona realizes she's got a few things to learn. Can she really be brave? And when a strange dog follows her toward school and scares her, will Ramona know what to do? Ramona's exciting first grade year will be a fun read for kids and for adults who read to kids, and who remember what it was like to be in first grade!
But when they just laugh and Beezus gets mad at her, Ramona realizes she's got a few things to learn. Can she really be brave? And when a strange dog follows her toward school and scares her, will Ramona know what to do? Ramona's exciting first grade year will be a fun read for kids and for adults who read to kids, and who remember what it was like to be in first grade!
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
In Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary, Ramona is excited to start kindergarten. She'll be going to school with the big kids, instead of staying at home watching them go to school! She'll get to participate in the Halloween parade instead of just watching it happen, and she'll be learning so much! Things start of great for Ramona.
Her teacher, Miss Binney, seems like a smart, understanding lady. But then Ramona quickly realizes that things won't be as easy or as exciting as she expected. She'll have to get along with the other kids, for one thing, and mean Susan is so bossy that it's hard for Ramona not to pull the other girl's springy curly hair! This is a fun book for children and adults who remember their kindergarten days, and the fun and challenge, of learning!
Her teacher, Miss Binney, seems like a smart, understanding lady. But then Ramona quickly realizes that things won't be as easy or as exciting as she expected. She'll have to get along with the other kids, for one thing, and mean Susan is so bossy that it's hard for Ramona not to pull the other girl's springy curly hair! This is a fun book for children and adults who remember their kindergarten days, and the fun and challenge, of learning!
May 5, 2024
The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry by Shelly Brown and Chad Morris
The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry by Shelly Brown and Chad Morris is a great story about a girl who has lived all her life with her family far from what we would call civilization, but has to come into town because of her little brother's illness.
Learning to navigate school, mean kids, shy kids, teachers, etc. is a pretty heavy load for Juniper. She has all that to deal with, and on top of it all, worry about her brother. How will Juniper cope? This is a great book about learning how to adapt to new situations, and working to make oneself a better human because of it. I recommend this great book for kids as well as adults! This book is also a 2024 finalist in the Middle Grade Whitney Awards!
Learning to navigate school, mean kids, shy kids, teachers, etc. is a pretty heavy load for Juniper. She has all that to deal with, and on top of it all, worry about her brother. How will Juniper cope? This is a great book about learning how to adapt to new situations, and working to make oneself a better human because of it. I recommend this great book for kids as well as adults! This book is also a 2024 finalist in the Middle Grade Whitney Awards!
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck takes place a few years after the bulk of A Long Way from Chicago ends. Mary Alice is the narrator now, and because of financial difficulties in her family, her parents decide to have her spend a year at Grandma Dowdle's.
She enrolls in the local school, and begins to meet different people she didn't in her summer visits. Some are nice, others not so much. This time she has several adventures from attracting the attention of the local meangirl, to going through a tornado warning. Through each chapter Mary Alice learns more about herself, her grandma, and her neighbors. Including one special classmate who happens to be a boy.
She enrolls in the local school, and begins to meet different people she didn't in her summer visits. Some are nice, others not so much. This time she has several adventures from attracting the attention of the local meangirl, to going through a tornado warning. Through each chapter Mary Alice learns more about herself, her grandma, and her neighbors. Including one special classmate who happens to be a boy.
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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