Kate Willis's Blog, page 88

Book Review: The Little Prince

[image error]“Moral allegory and spiritual autobiography, The Little Prince is the most translated book in the French language. With a timeless charm, it tells the story of a little boy who leaves the safety of his own tiny planet to travel the universe, learning the vagaries of adult behaviour through a series of extraordinary encounters. His personal odyssey culminates in a voyage to Earth and further adventures.” (from Goodreads)

I have many thoughts about this book. If I were to be a grown-up, I might tell you that it might have erred on the side of Pelagianism, and there was a disturbing death. There is something important about being a grown-up sometimes.

But I am instead going to be a child and share with you what I have loved and learned.

1. Loving something or someone is frightfully hazardous but really the only thing worth anything.

2. How am I living on the little planet I’ve been placed on?

3. Sacrifice is often key to love.

4. We children care about and can see what is on the inside.

This book made me cry, it’s true. Also, the illustrations aren’t really as poor as the author claims.

Draft Two, Done!

So, this happened…

Spring Book Haul!

Dun, dun, da!! Time for a book haul post!

Short Story Review: Dead Drop

[image error]“Summertime is all fun and games …and spycraft. 

When Jaimie and her brother discover a hollow place in a half-dead tree, she and her friends decide it’s the perfect dead drop for their amateur spy-ring. As time goes on, the messages Jaimie receives become harder to decipher. Is one of her friends a real spy? Or is something even stranger going on?

This is a short story (approx. 26 minutes average reading time).” (from Goodreads)

You know those vintage kids’ mysteries where summer vacation is perfect and your neighbors are your best friends? Add this one to the list. I read it aloud to all my siblings, and everyone enjoyed it.

The Aesthetic Tag

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Wow, this looks like an awesome tag. Thanks so much, Victoria Lynn, for tagging me!

Rules

Post the tag photo in the body of your post and copy your post name from mine.
Tag at least three friends who you know enjoy being authentic and real, or their blog seems to have that message.
Answer all questions if possible and if they don’t apply to you, explain why.

Ready, set? GO!

1. Post a no-makeup photo. Don’t take and retake. You have one shot. It’s so easy to take a photo over and over in a world of digital cameras, but before in the world of one step cameras and film, that just wasn’t possible.

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2. The last song you listened to. If you don’t remember the exact song, then a cd can count too. Spotify or Youtube may help you in this.

I Find the Books Because of You

I read Dreamlander because my sister Perry said it was something I might like.

I picked up Heartless to decide once and for all what kind of book it was, thanks to a Goodreads controversy.

Book Review: Kindred Souls

[image error]“Jake’s grandfather, Billy, hears the talk of birds, is eighty-eight years old, and is going to live forever. Even when Billy gets sick, Jake knows that everything will go on as always. But there’s one thing Billy wants: to rebuild the sod house where he grew up. Can Jake give him this one special thing?

From beloved author Patricia MacLachlan comes a poignant story about what we do for the ones we love, and how the bonds that hold us together also allow us to let each other go.” (from Goodreads) 

Okay, so this was a sweet and mean story. I loved the value it placed on interacting with the elderly, and Jake and his grandfather were so sweet together. It totally cracked me up when Billy “flirted” with his doctor. XD Billy seemed to really love his life and was content with slow days and simple things. I think that affected the entire family in a big way. I also loved how they drew together to bless him one last time. *sniffs* I totally bawled at the end of this book…

Best quote: “Jake?” Lida says, tears at the edges of her eyes. “What? And don’t cry.” Lida lifts her shoulders and wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. “I have a sod cutter,” she says very softly.

Altogether, can you see why I said this was a sweet and mean book? Book, you have no right to make me cry this way.

Anticipation

Hello mailbox, my old friend. I’ve come to check you once again. The email said my books were coming, but to the questions I’m succumbing…

I ordered books last week.

The Stealthmaster’s Shadow Cover Reveal!

Do you hear me screaming happily all the way from here??!! I mean, if you live all the way in Antarctica and you can hear me, either I’m really loud or penguins are really quiet. #deepthoughts

Back to why I was screaming… Today I get to share the cover of Hope Ann’s upcoming book, The Stealthmaster’s Shadow, fourth in the Legends of Light series.

Book Review: Summerlost

[image error]“It’s the first real summer since the devastating accident that killed Cedar’s father and younger brother, Ben. But now Cedar and what’s left of her family are returning to the town of Iron Creek for the summer. They’re just settling into their new house when a boy named Leo, dressed in costume, rides by on his bike. Intrigued, Cedar follows him to the renowned Summerlost theatre festival. Soon, she not only has a new friend in Leo and a job working concessions at the festival, she finds herself surrounded by mystery. The mystery of the tragic, too-short life of the Hollywood actress who haunts the halls of Summerlost. And the mystery of the strange gifts that keep appearing for Cedar.” (from Goodreads)

I FINALLY got to read this book, and I’m so happy. (And so sad, because it’s that kind of book.) I’ve always liked the cover when I’ve seen it on Goodreads, but I was pleased to find the back cover is just as beautiful. And the PAGE NUMBERS!!! This is weird, but I loved it that they were on the side instead of the top. Also, the book was divided into three acts. Like a play. And plays feature highly into this book. Boom.

But onto the story part of the book…