Serafina and the Twisted Staff

By Robert Beatty 

     It is not too often that I say that a sequel is way better than the original, but I loved this book!  This book was highly entertaining and a pleasure to read.  The tale of the Twisted Staff begins shortly after the black cloak ends.  Serafina is in the forest and sees something she does not understand, the animals seem to be leaving the area, she is attacked by some large wolfhounds and she is saved by a mysterious boy, her mother and another mountain lion.  Her mother, a catamount, encourages her to return to the Biltmore Estate, she claims for her safety, but Serafina is sure that something is threatening her life, the estate and her loved ones.  As Christmas approaches the estate is filling with new guests and animals are going missing.  A detective enters the story, he is interested in what happened to Mr. Thornton.  He specifically asks to speak to Serafina and Braeden and is very curious about their actions on the night that Mr. Thornton went missing.  

    As more animals leave the Blue Ridge Mountains, Serafina looks to her Mother for more information.  Her mother is not to be found but the boy and her half siblings are around.  She hears that they plan on leaving the area with the other animals, in fear of the encroaching evil.  She finally talks to Braeden and they devise a plan on figuring out what is threatening their existence.  

   The animals that are still around are acting differently, they are going where they have never been before and they are attacking Serafina.  After a harrowing escape from the rafters above the ballroom, Serafina knows she has to do something drastic.  She goes out into the forest looking for answers finds, animals that have been caged, meets a man in a long cloak, and he magically takes away her breath and body.  After she is roused she returns home.  How is she going to overcome this new magic, how can she protect her loved ones and the Biltmore Estate?  Who is threatening the Blue Ridge Mountains?  

   This book is full of adventure, twist and turns and a flowing plot.  You hear more of the back story, surrounding the Biltmore Estate and discover who/what Serafina is intended to be.  I loved the story and the writing was phenomenal!  I could not put this book down, a real page turner.  Therefore, I am giving this book a 4.5 out of five stars and encourage all students grades 4 and up to check out it out.  

Links 

Author - Robert Beatty

The Vanderbilt Family

Blue Ridge Mountains

Irena's Children

By Tilar J. Mazzea

     This book touched me on several levels.  It is a very well written story about a time in history that I am sure many wish never happened.  With the uncertain times that we are currently embroiled, this book really opens ones eyes to the reality of racism, the danger of letting those in power go unchecked and how even the smallest defiance can make a world of change.  

     One is introduced to Irena, a student in Warsaw Poland at the beginning of World War II.  She has befriended many people at the University, including many Jews.  The encroaching German's have many concerned but no worried for their lives.  The small steps that the Gestapo utilized to immobilize the Jews, the ghetto and the erosion of their rights and humanity are frightening.  Many Jews planned on just making it through, never dreaming the depth of hatred that would fall upon their shoulders.  Irena is Christian, but since she works for the Welfare Department, she is enabled to enter the ghetto and move about freely.  She takes it upon herself to free as many children as possible from their German captors.  

     Irena manages a large network of resistance workers that help her move children to safety, whether it be orphanages, christian homes or into the countryside.  What is remarkable about her journey is that she maintained a very dangerous list, so that after the war, Jewish families may be reunited.  Irena did everything at great peril to herself and her loved ones, but she felt that she was not a hero, she was just doing what had to be done, for humanity.  Even when Irena is captured, she maintains her list and does everything she can to keep the children safely hidden.  She entrusts her list with a compatriot, and maintains silence through months of beating and threat of execution.  Zegota, another underground organization that helped Irena, finally manages to get free Irena and she goes into hiding.  Much of what she accomplished was through blatant disregard to the Germans, hiding in plain sight.  It is estimated that her network of helpers hid and saved over 2500 children.  This is incredible!  

     I know the aspect that really resonated in my heart is the constant lesson of doing what needs to be done, when a crime against humanity is occurring.  Not to sit idly and let something happen when you know it is not right.  To give a voice to those that can not speak or are afraid to speak.  All of the hatred that abounds in today's world, needs to be checked we need to be more accepting of each other, we do not want to relive another atrocity, let's learn from the past.  

     I love historical novels just for the lessons that be learned from the past, the are unapologetic and in your face.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars, I loved it, but I know over time, some of the details have been forgotten, and I missed those.  I loved the harrowing tales of how some of the children escaped and wished for more!  I think that this book is appropriate for all students in fifth grade and up.  Happy reading! 

Links 

Warsaw Ghetto 

Pawiak Prison

Concentration Camps

Author Tilar Mazzeo

Unfriended

By Rachel Vail

     What an eye opening read, I enjoyed this quick read fairly well.  This book has you one enthralled and engaged from the first page.  Meet a group of students in Middle School, they are all trying to either be popular or remain popular.  Middle school everyone is worried about perception and being accepted by your classmates.  Beautiful friendly Brook rules the school, she is friendly and outgoing and has a crush on her best friend Clay.  Clay is mr. Cool, he is athletic and all of the girls like him.  His problem is that his perfect older brother just went away to college and he is struggling with his own identity.  Natasha dated Clay briefly and is very self centered, she wants to be the queen bee and plots to overthrow Brook.  Meet Truly, she was Natasha's best friend until 6th grade, she wants to be liked by everyone, she joins the populars through a Natasha ploy.  Unfortunately, she leaves her best friend Hazel by the wayside, angered and hurt.  

     As  the story progresses other characters come into play, but the mechanizations of Hazel and Natasha destroy Truly's confidence and self worth.  They manipulate circumstances making Truly believe that she is a bad, evil individual, which is far from the truth.  Jack, who has a crush on Truly is one of the fw people believe in her innocence.  What this book really shows is how quickly things can spiral out of control in today's technology laden world.  Cyber- bullying is a very real and dangerous situation.  Smarrt phones and anonymous apps are the rage, and people are feeling emboldened by their hidden identity.  Does everyome back together, who ends up being popular or on the fringe, you gonna have to read the book to find out.  

     This book did a few things extremely well, it highlighted the dangers of apps, social media and cyber bullying which is necessary in today's environment.  It also altered the view point to each of the main characters, each chapter is from a different perspective.  So most of major occurrences you will see from varying characters eyes.  I am giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars, I am marking it down because I felt that the chunk of the climax was missing.  In fact, I thought I missed part of the book and reread the last couple of chapters a few times.  I do think this book is a great read and encourage any student from 5th grade up to give it a try.  

Links

Author - Rachel Vail

Stop bullying

Dangers of Anonymous Apps

Dangerous anonymous apps?

e

6

Olive's Ocean

By Kevin Henkes

    This coming of age book could be an incredible story, but it falls a little flat for me.  I think it tries to encompass too much.  It tries to cope with death of a classmate, first love, secret passion of writing a demanding sibling, parental discord and a lasting relationship with  a grandparent.  If one of the conflicts would be eliminated it would be a stronger read.  

     Martha's summer is going pretty well until she finds out that a classmate, Olive, has died in a tragic accident.  Even though they were never truly friends, Martha gets a surprise visit from Olive's Mom.  Martha receives a slip of paper from Olive's journal.  Martha gets a inside look into Olive's shy life.  Olive shares her desire to write and a wish to visit the ocean.  Of course, Martha spends part of every summer at her Grandmothers on the east coast.  Olive dwells on how to find closure for her dead classmate, has a romantic kiss, almost drowns before she safely returns home.
     Unfortunately, since  the main conflict was diluted there was no strong climax and no resolution that left the reader wanting more.  I am going to give this book a 3 out of 5, it was sufficient but I found it lacking.  This book is appropriate for readers 5th grade through 7th grade.

Links

Author Kevin Henkes

Dealing with the death of a classmate

Guide on how to become a writer

Frost

IBy M.P. Kozlowsky

    This Sci-Fi book is an interesting must read.  I am the first one to say that Sci Fi is not my favorite, yet this book held my attention and kept me coming back for more.  This is an end of the world book, where technology has overcome the planet and humans are hunted and enslaved  Meet Frost, a human child that is hiding and being raised by a robot that houses the essence of her father.  When her pet, becomes sick, the three have no choice but to search for the fabled battery.  The route is fraught with dangers, human, wild eaters and robots.  

     The city is in a state of change, although truthly nothing ever stays the same.  She meets other free humans, rebels, evil robots and discovers many things about the past, her family and a true accounting of how the planet has come to this critical state.  Will she ever be able to look at her father the same when she discovers he is the one that developed the technology that has the robots ruling.  Will she be able to reach the battery.  

     What I enjoyed most about this tale is the interesting plot twists and the surprises are well earth shattering.  I am giving this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.  A few of the plot twists are a little too obvious.  This book is very appropriate for students above 5th grade and would be enjoyed by everybody.  If you enjoy sci fi, zombie apocalypse or just a good story than this is the book for you.  

Links

Author - M. P. Kozlowsky

Technological threats to humanity

Zombie apocalypse ?????

The Charm Bracelet

By Viola Shipman

    This is a wonderful generational story.  Three wonderful characters in different parts of their lives, all connected by familial ties.  Lolly is the matriarch and lives in the small Michigan coastal town where she grew up.  She resides in the same cabin that has been handed down through the family.  Lolly honors the past with a charm bracelet that chronicles important events for herself and her for"mothers".  Lolly is also a local icon, she portrays Dolly at Scoops the candy and ice cream parlor.  She is recognized and adored by locals and visitors alike, but how can you hide crazy wigs and crafty aprons.  The persona that gives Lolly joy and a purpose in life, chases her daughter out of Michigan into Chicago.  As Lolly ages and begins to lose her memory she struggles to reconnect with her distant family in Illinois.
     Arden ran from her home town, wanting more than her quaint cabin and a local boy, she craved affluence and wealth.  She falls in love, marries and has a beautiful daughter, but when her marriage falls apart and she divorces, she is left floundering in a dead end job.  Her ex husband refuses to help foot the bill for Lauren's college and has left Arden in a financial crisis.  She can not handle too much more stress, the phone call from Michigan informing her of her Mother's dwindling memory, and missing shifts at work has her worried.  After a quick lunch with her daughter Lauren, they decide to take an extended Memorial day weekend and check on the aging Lolly.
     Lauren a senior in college is well aware of her mother's financial difficulties and has changed her plan of becoming an artist to be a business major.  She feels caged and is wildly unhappy with her current direction.  She idolizes her Grandmother, Lolly, and can not wait to visit her in Michigan.  Lauren knows she has to change her major, if she is ever going to be truly happy, but dreads the discussion with her mother.
     When Arden and Lauren reach Michigan, they are despaired of Lolly's obvious lapses in memory. After a doctor's visit and a consult with a home care professional, it is decided that Lolly should remain at home with some medication and a viable treatment is for her to relive the past.  Arden is dismayed since this means a reciting of the  meaning of the charms on her bracelet.  The bracelet that Arden has abhorred for years.  As the three women reconnect, wonderful heartwarming changes are made and they form loving lasting bonds.
     This book is a very heartwarming read, I don't feel that most children will appreciate the intricacies of the relationships at play.  The story resonated with me on a personal front, and I enjoyed it, it is not however, a story for kids.  Highschool girls may find this a eye opening tale as they prepare for college.  It does put life, school and love in a definitive perspective.  Since the book is not for children, I am giving it a low rating, of 2 out of 5, but for any adult readers this is a great story.

Links

Author - Viola Shipman

Wade Rouse

Memory Loss

Northern Lights

Serafina and the Black Cloak

By Robert Beatty

     This entertaining tale will leave you guessing.  Meet a young Serafina, hidden in the basement of the Biltmore Estate.  Her Pa is the chief mechanic and repairs all of the machines at the house. They live secretly in the basement, and Serafina makes a point of not being seen.  At night she wanders the halls of the mansion, finding, capturing and ridding the house of rats.  She is unnaturally fast and adept at seeing these horrible rodents.  One night during her inspection she hears and sees something that frightens her, a figure in a black coat.  

     The next day it is discovered that the children from Biltmore and the surrounding area are disappearing, Serafina knows that the mysterious figure in the cloak is the culprit.  The problem is that Serafina needs to remain a secret so how can she let the residents know that they are in danger.  Finally, she approaches the young master, Braeden Vanderbilt.  The two children form a bond and endeavor to figure out who the person is in the black cloak.  As more children disappear and after a harrowing night in the dark forest, Serafina knows that she has no other solution but to become the bait in a trap and to lead towards a sure battle with a mountain lion.  

     Will Serafina's plan work, will she be able to draw the evil away from Biltmore Manor and away from Braeden?  By the end of the story Serafina discovers her dubious beginnings, makes a frightening trek through a dangerous forest, meets her mother and fights her own demons, but will she to retain her friendship with Braeden and will she be accepted by everyone at Biltmore?  

     This is a very interesting story.  Interesting in that it combines two genres of literature.  It has aspects of a historical fiction, while it dwells into the supernatural world.  I feel that this book would be great in fourth grade and up to seventh or eighth grade.  This book was a definite page turner and I am giving it a 4 out of 5 stars.  

Links

Author - Robert Beatty

Biltmore Estate history

Vanderbilt history

Ghost stories from the Blue Ridge mountains