Hostage Lands

Hi,
I've been wanting to read this book ever since i saw it at a conference this spring.
And finally it was in at the library. And it was worth the wait.

What the book's about...
As they translate the ancient script on recently unearthed Roman tablets, fifteen-year-old British farm boy Neil and his Latin teacher delve into the story of Rusticus, a centurion saved from massacre by Caedmon, a Celt who has witnessed Christians being martyred in Rome.
I know that that description of the book is kinda boring but it is a relay exciting book. The story mainly follows Rusticus and his story. And his story is an amazing one of bravery, kindness, and trust. I Loved this book. Here's my thoughts on it:

Age: 13 and up. It has a slow start so if you like fast paced books this one may take some patience.

Good or Bad? Amazing. I read it in two days i couldn't seem to put it down.

Scary?  The main character is fighting in a war so there are some Intense parts so id say 5.

Hard parts: There is betrayal in this story. Its set in ancient Rome and the roman culture at that time was kinda creepy.

Favorite part or Quote: When Ruticus's friend tells the story of Christ. It's very cool and powerful the way he tells it.

Thanks for reading
i hope you get a chance to read this book.

Lillie

Glory Be

Hi everyone it's Lillie.
I finished another book this one is called Glory Be by. Augusta Scattergood
Here's what its about:

For Gloriana June Hemphill, life in Hanging Moss,Mississippi, is filled with doodle bugs, iced tea, and fireworks on her birthday, the Fourth of July. But the summer of 1964 is different. Glory, as everyone knows her, is eager to turn twelve. There are times though when she wishes she could turn back the clock a year. Maybe it's the new girl from the North- With her black socks and clodhopper sandals- that's got everyone out of sorts. Or maybe it's the debate about whether or not the town should keep the segregated public pool open. It seems the answers to Glory's questions about the pool  keep changing. Now she's got to summon up the courage to to find out whats true and who's lying. 

Half of the reason I normally like or dislike a book is whether or not I like the characters. In Glory Be Augusta Scattergood, did an amazing job with how she built her characters. At the Beginning of the Book Glory's Father seems not to care much about anything. But because of that first impression of him when he does stand up for his daughters and what he thinks is right it leaves you cheering for him.
Well here is what i think of this book:

Age: I would say 12 and up.

Good or Bad? Very Good i really enjoyed it.

Scary?  4 Not really scary but it is pretty intense at some parts

Hard parts: There is quite a bit of hard stuff in this book. One of her friends gets beat up, If you have ever read To Kill a Mocking Bird  its that kind of hard.

I hope you give this book a try!

Lillie

P.S: if you want to know more about Augusta Scattergood click here!

Sad News

For the first time since Ive started this blog i found a book i didnt like.
Here's what its called
Behind the masks by Susan Patron
Here is what the back of the book says

My name is Angie this is my story...
Life in the wild west is never dull, especially not after Angeline Reddys father, the town of Bodies greatest criminal lawyer, is declared murdered. Angie, who knows deep in her heart that he isn't dead, decides its up to her to solve the mystery of what happened to him. But when her mother takes ill a mysterious ghost appears, putting together the puzzle pieces seems impossible. Not to mention a gang of vigilantes the 601, is raging out of control, running folks out of town, and nobody is safe.
 Will Angie, with the help of her friends Ellie and Lin Loi and the mysterious and tragical handsome Antonie, be able to uncover the secrets of her fathers disappearance?

I love mysteries especially Good ones. But this one went all wrong. Although this book is under the category of Historical Fiction it has a ghost in it. Now when i read the back of the book and it said a ghost appeared i though that like many other books the "Ghost" would end up being something else like noises in the attic that end up being someone hiding up there. Or Perhaps just a charters Imagination blowing something way out of proportion. But no this had a ghost in it. Not a noise thought to be one, not imagination a ghost. When i hit that part i thought perhaps the rest of the book would leave ghosts out. But as i flipped ahead i noticed that the Ghost  had a big part in the plot so i decided to stop reading.

I know there are people out there who enjoy ghost stories and if you enjoyed this book I'm glad but i have decided that i don't what that in my head.

I'm not going to do as i normally would with the Age Good or Bad etc because i didn't finish the book.

If you have read the book please leave me a comment!

Lillie

The Danceing Pancake by Eileen Spinelli

Hi,
I have to say that this book was a fun one to read,
It was all writen in pros
So fun

Here's what the back of the book says

The line into the danceing pancake

curls all the way around the block

Mom helps Ruby Frances wait tables

I fill endless syrup bottles,

napkin holders, shugar jars.

We are busy and wizzy

and spinning through the day.

The grand opening at The Danceing Pancake isntthe only new thing in Bindi's life: new friends, a new apartment, maby even a cute new crush? But there are other changes, like her dad's move to to a new city, that have left Bindi confused wondering: What will happen to my family? Will this new life ever feel normal? Among the unlikely bunch of of regulars who form a makeshift community at the diner, Bindi will try to figure out how to be a new version of herself, one pancake and silly elephant joke (her uncles specialty) at a time. 

Heres what i think:

Age: 9 and up. It was a preaty easy read

Good or Bad? Good i likes that it was in Pros

Scary? 0 not scary at all.

Hard parts: Her parents are thinking of getting a divorce, Grace (one of thire custamers) is homeless, Yes Bindi has a crush on a boy but they are 11 and never even have a conversation.

My favorite charicter: My favorite charicter in this book was Albert her bestfriend/honorary brother. i liked him becuse he was kind of odd. Most of the time all he talked about were bugs. But comeing up right behind him in favorites is Grace. An older homless lady who Bindi loves.

I hope you enjoy it!

Lillie

 

Pictuers by Lewis Hine

Here are some pictures by Lewis Hine:

  

Here the picture that's on the cover of Counting On Grace



 I wonder how Lewis took this picture?

Are they eating lunch?

I don't think i could eat if i was up that high.

 

I don't think I would want his job.

  

I wonder what she's thinking about?

 Yikes!!!!!

Well thanks for looking!

Lillie

Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

Just me,
I went to the library and was slightly discouraged by the fact that there are not many good books. But as i looked i saw a sticker that said Historical fiction. I grabbed the book flipped it open to the inside page and this is what it said:
1910
North Pownal Vermont
Twelve year old Grace and her friend Arthur must leave school to work as doffers in a mill. But Grace is left handed. Replacing full bobbins with empty ones is a right-handed job, and every mistake Grace makes costs her family precious pennies...
   I almost set down the book, it sounds kind of boring. But still i keep reading...
Grace knows Arthur is hatching a desperate plan to get himself out of the mill...
   A desperate plan? Maybe this could be exciting...
She begs him to wait. something will come to change their lives.
that something turns out to be Lewis Hine, a reformer with a camera...
  I know who he is! I just read about him in A History of US! I think to myself...
Who finds hims way into the mill to so that he can take pictures of kids like grace and Arthur next to the enormous spinning frames that beat out the rhythm of their twelve hour days. Boldly Grace becomes his secret ally.
  I ended up checking out the book from the library. And here is what i think of it...

Age: 9 and up not that it was scary but the words might be kind of hard for someone any younger than 9

Good or Bad? Good it starts out slowly but if you hang in there the plot comes in and things get more exciting

Scary? 1 nothing was scary. But there was a lot of sad parts

Hard parts to look out for: Graces Grandfather Dies, There is one bad word but that's all, One boy gets hurt in the mill and it goes into some detail of what the wound looks like, She try's to run away and her mom hits her at one point.

Although i wasn't shure whether it would be good I'm glad i checked it out and if you like Historical fiction i suggest you should too.

Lillie


P.S If you read this book be shure to look at page 223-227 It's all about how Elizabeth Winthrop though to wirte this book about hao she saw this picture and wondered what life was like for this little girl.
Do you ever do that wonder what life was or is like for others?

Sorry!

Hi,
Sorry about the weird highlighting on my blog about the help. I cant get it to change :-(

Lillie