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Destiny And Faith #2
Destiny And Faith's Summer Adventures
It's summer! Destiny and Faith come up with a great idea to keep busy during the summer. They try to get a job! They end up cleaning a dusty, possibly haunted, old attic, running a PURPLE lemonade stand, and most importantly, making a great new friend. Dustin happens to be Deaf, and Destiny and Faith put their knowledge of American Sign Language to the test! But can it help them land a job? EXCERPT "I can't believe we're doing this," Faith whispered from behind me. We were walking down our street in the dark. "Tiny, how did you drag me into this?" "Shh!" I hissed. "The ghosts will hear us if you talk." "Have I ever mentioned that I'm afraid of the dark?" Faith asked me, nudging my shoulder. "Only a bazillion times! And that's just tonight," I snapped, getting frustrated. "If you're going to be a fraidy cat you might as well go home, and let me do this alone." "No way," Faith said, standing tall. "I'm not letting my baby sister walk around in dark haunted houses by herself." "You're a saint," I said sarcastically. "Obviously, I am. I'm putting aside my fears for you, aren't I?" "Sh! Did you hear that?" I asked. "Hear what?" Faith tried to hide behind me. "Never mind. I think it was just a stray cat or something." I turned my flashlight on and flicked it around, trying to check out the noise. "You had a flashlight this whole time, and you're just now turning it on?" Faith whined. "I didn't want anyone to see us," I hissed at Faith. "Stay here." "What? No! Don't leave me here in the dark." Faith clung to my jacket. "Just stay behind this bush," I instructed her. "Fine, but if I see a ghost I'm leaving without you." I shrugged and started to head toward the house. "You're taking the flashlight?" Faith asked. I rolled my eyes, and I handed it to her. "Thanks," she whispered. "Now I'm going," I hissed. I walked slowly along the bushes and looked in Dustin's windows. There he was. Old Mr. Jenkins! Seeing him made me so nervous that I tripped over a twig, causing it to snap. "Uh oh," I said. BOOKS IN THIS SERIES #1 Destiny And Faith Go To Twincentric Academy #2 Destiny And Faith's Summer Adventures #3 Destiny And Faith Get Stuck In The Country
60 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 18, 2014
Destiny and Faith's Summer Adventures was quite fun to read. Ms. O’Malley’s characters are as real as children can be. She incorporated true children’s curiosity through the twins, Destiny and Faith, the need for friendship by adding a new kid on the block, Dustin who happens to be deaf, and a pair of snobbish girls, Jourdana and Jourdonna, as the antagonists.
Summer has begun and Destiny and Faith want to find a job, even though they are only eight years old. They attempt to clean a filthy attic, but are overcome with the spiders and spider webs. They go ghost hunting only to be scared away by the ghost, and they build a lemon stand even though they don’t have any lemons. But they finally get their job teaching another set of twins, Hope and Grace how to speak in American Sign Language so that they can be friends with Dustin, as well.
I loved this early reader chapter book. It teaches friendship, dealing with people who aren’t nice, and emphasizes tolerance of others and the need to include people who are different in one’s circle of friends. In addition to Dustin being deaf, Destiny and Faith are bi-racial. The author describes what they look like to introduce the topic. Her description of Destiny and Faith and their mom and dad is low-key and projects acceptance without being preachy. Visit her blog to learn about the real life, Hope, who is the inspiration for the bi-racial characters.
Summer has begun and Destiny and Faith want to find a job, even though they are only eight years old. They attempt to clean a filthy attic, but are overcome with the spiders and spider webs. They go ghost hunting only to be scared away by the ghost, and they build a lemon stand even though they don’t have any lemons. But they finally get their job teaching another set of twins, Hope and Grace how to speak in American Sign Language so that they can be friends with Dustin, as well.
I loved this early reader chapter book. It teaches friendship, dealing with people who aren’t nice, and emphasizes tolerance of others and the need to include people who are different in one’s circle of friends. In addition to Dustin being deaf, Destiny and Faith are bi-racial. The author describes what they look like to introduce the topic. Her description of Destiny and Faith and their mom and dad is low-key and projects acceptance without being preachy. Visit her blog to learn about the real life, Hope, who is the inspiration for the bi-racial characters.
February 12, 2014
A charming book full of diversity which is fun and educational! Even my slugs learnt something - and that doesn't happen often. Destiny and Faith need summer jobs and they soon get the most enjoyable job of all - cleaning a neighbour's attic! This isn't just any old attic as the attic is inside a haunted house! (No more exclamation marks!) They also become friends with the occupants, specifically a deaf boy called Dustin and we get to experience sign language - something all children should become familiar with. My slugs have now taken it up and become fairly proficient. There's even a page at the back listing the sign language alphabet.
Just one thing, ghost... garlic? Very amusing! (You'll have to read it).
Must buy!
Just one thing, ghost... garlic? Very amusing! (You'll have to read it).
Must buy!
December 22, 2014
Twins Destiny and Faith have just begun summer vacation. The neighborhood is quiet; the girls are disappointed to find out best friends Hope and Grace are off to Japan. Jourdana and Jourdonna, snobby twins who also attend their school, gloat that they are off to France to study the language. Faith suggests they find a summer job, her less ambitious sister is not so sure about that idea.
But things quickly change, when the girls notice that a family has moved into the old Jenkins house that is rumored to be haunted. They discover a new friend, Dustin, who happens to be deaf. That provides no problem for the girls who know American sign language. The three become fast friends, find a way to make money, and experience adventures in which they also discover things are not always what they appear to be.
There are many wonderful features in this short, early chapter book for children in the early elementary grades. The book reflects racial diversity as the twins are part of a biracial family, and readers are introduced to deafness which is not portrayed as a negative disability. The eight year old twins handle peer situations appropriately, and the values of true friendship and family support displayed. As an extra bonus children are given a guide to understanding sign language at the end of the story. Highly recommended for early readers as well as their teachers and parents.
But things quickly change, when the girls notice that a family has moved into the old Jenkins house that is rumored to be haunted. They discover a new friend, Dustin, who happens to be deaf. That provides no problem for the girls who know American sign language. The three become fast friends, find a way to make money, and experience adventures in which they also discover things are not always what they appear to be.
There are many wonderful features in this short, early chapter book for children in the early elementary grades. The book reflects racial diversity as the twins are part of a biracial family, and readers are introduced to deafness which is not portrayed as a negative disability. The eight year old twins handle peer situations appropriately, and the values of true friendship and family support displayed. As an extra bonus children are given a guide to understanding sign language at the end of the story. Highly recommended for early readers as well as their teachers and parents.
January 14, 2014
In this second adventure of the twins, Ms. O'Malley balances the educatated and very bright twins with the still young and naive. The twins are gifted which shows in their dialogue but when they encounter the unknown and misunderstood in the ghost of an old man, they react as their ages would dictate. . .they're still children.
Ms. O'Malley uses the twins' adventure as a vehicle to promote her philosopy of learning and education as a valuable asset when the twins find a practical use for the sign language that had been an amusement until they meet the neighbors. Through "signing" comes friendship and understanding and a skill becomes a tool rather than toy.
even the antagonists, the twins Jourdana and Jourdonna serve as learning opportunities as the two protagonists find opportunity to be nice to the other girls.
Overall, Ms. O'Malley promotes learning as a good thing. The almost over simplified artwork compliments the rather sophiscated text without detracting from the message; the story's strength lives in the writing rather than in exaggerated artwork. Definately a story that exposes young to the concepts of education and acceptance of others.
Ms. O'Malley uses the twins' adventure as a vehicle to promote her philosopy of learning and education as a valuable asset when the twins find a practical use for the sign language that had been an amusement until they meet the neighbors. Through "signing" comes friendship and understanding and a skill becomes a tool rather than toy.
even the antagonists, the twins Jourdana and Jourdonna serve as learning opportunities as the two protagonists find opportunity to be nice to the other girls.
Overall, Ms. O'Malley promotes learning as a good thing. The almost over simplified artwork compliments the rather sophiscated text without detracting from the message; the story's strength lives in the writing rather than in exaggerated artwork. Definately a story that exposes young to the concepts of education and acceptance of others.
April 24, 2014
The adorable twins featured on the cover of 'Destiny and Faith's Summer Adventures' look very much like a little girl close to my own heart. Having enjoyed Teddy O'Malley's previous book* with her and her brother, how could I resist this one? Destiny, nicknamed Tiny, is the book's very cute and funny narrator. The children I read it with have also enjoyed setting up a shop, so could fully empathise with Tiny and Faith's efforts. We were all fascinated by the equipment needed for ghost hunting and by the actual search itself.
It's also great that Teddy O'Malley has featured a deaf child and sign language in her story. Life can be difficult for kids who have anything the least bit different about their physical abilities or appearance. 'Summer Adventure' has a multiracial group of kids, plus a ghost. What more could you ask? A must read for the upcoming summer holidays.
*Destiny and Faith Go To Twincentric Academy!
It's also great that Teddy O'Malley has featured a deaf child and sign language in her story. Life can be difficult for kids who have anything the least bit different about their physical abilities or appearance. 'Summer Adventure' has a multiracial group of kids, plus a ghost. What more could you ask? A must read for the upcoming summer holidays.
*Destiny and Faith Go To Twincentric Academy!
July 11, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this short chapter book, and the charming illustrations help break the text up into "bite size" chunks manageable for younger readers.
Kids will easily identify with the twins, and with there summer holiday plans. Who doesn't want a job to earn a bit of extra pocket money? In exploring their options, we are taken on an amusing romp through the girls' neighbourhood - tackling snobbish school "friends", massive spiders, ghostly sightings, oh, and making a new friend along the way!
The tale is told with insightful humour throughout, and I love the inclusion of a young deaf boy as the twins' new friend. Having the twins communicating with him in sign language should be helpful in encouraging understanding between children with "differences". The end of the book also includes a summary of basic sign language hand positions, which I'm sure lots of young children will be curious about, and will, I hope, feel inspired to want to try out after reading the book.
Kids will easily identify with the twins, and with there summer holiday plans. Who doesn't want a job to earn a bit of extra pocket money? In exploring their options, we are taken on an amusing romp through the girls' neighbourhood - tackling snobbish school "friends", massive spiders, ghostly sightings, oh, and making a new friend along the way!
The tale is told with insightful humour throughout, and I love the inclusion of a young deaf boy as the twins' new friend. Having the twins communicating with him in sign language should be helpful in encouraging understanding between children with "differences". The end of the book also includes a summary of basic sign language hand positions, which I'm sure lots of young children will be curious about, and will, I hope, feel inspired to want to try out after reading the book.
July 5, 2014
****4.0 stars July 5, 2014
A well organized story line book for children to enjoy.
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This review is from: Destiny And Faith's Summer Adventures (Kindle Edition)
Destiny And Faith's Summer Adventures by author Teddy O'Malley was fun and educational as well.
This book was simple with illustrations but I found that simple was cool in this book. The twins had a summer filled of
adventures. I Liked chapters 2, 3, and 6 the best: "French in France", Sign Language", and "Haunted Houses". I like the
educational tools mixed into adventure. This book was well written and awesome.
Good job!
February 24, 2015
Destiny and Faith's Summer Adventures is a wonderful early chapter reader that will invoke imagination and give kids inspiration! A beautifully crafted and easy to understand adventure interwoven with real life lessons make this book a must for your growing child! A super fun story!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews