Switched! - a Tyndale review

Switched! is the fifth book in the TJ and the Time Stumblers series written by Bill Myers. This is a youth fiction novel that, in my opinion, would be a great book for 10-13 year olds. Girls or boys would enjoy it, but I have no girls so I can't give an adolescent girl's review. :) I did have my 12 year old son give it a read so that I could put his opinion out there. But first I'll give you my spill.

First of all, Switched! is a Christian fiction book, has a fantasy feel to it (time travel, invisible characters) as well as exciting and hilarious adventure, and is written in a fashion that would appeal to adolescents (primarily preteens). At 156 pages, the font isn't teeny tiny, so it won't take a child forever to read. At times, there is large font to convey excitement, which is appealing to the eye. The chapters are about the right length for a kid who likes to read one chapter at a time (about ten pages per chapter).

Goofball friends Tuna and Herby from the 23rd Century have teamed up to make their friend TJ Finkelstein the greatest leader of the world. First, however, they have to teach her many lessons along the way to prepare her for greatness. But when a futuristic technological gadget malfunctions, TJ finds herself in the body of her nemesis Hesper Breakahart! If that's not problematic enough, Tuna and Herby find themselves having a battle with their own enemy--Bruce Bruiseabone. The story is action-packed, full of hilarious problems to solve and goofy characters.

My son liked the part when TJ thought that Bruce Bruiseabone was trying to get after her. He was in the form of a crab and he chased her. She thought he was trying to kill her, but he was trying to tell her something. The book was funny, and he also recommends it for preteen adolescents.

If you're looking for a good series for your Christian adolescent like this one, I recommend it. It's funny, it's off the beaten path, and it's full of adventure from start to finish. I've not read the whole series, but I have a feeling that it will be one that my kids will enjoy in the future!

I am a member of Tyndale Blog Network, a fabulous website that sends free books to read and keep if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble). Tyndale Blog Network is through Tyndale House Publishers.

Dragons of the Valley - a Multnomah Review

Dragons of the Valley, by Donita K. Paul, was an enjoyable read. I had trouble visualizing the characters at first: several different races at different sizes and names and descriptions. . . . It took a couple of chapters before I was able to realize who was whom. (It doesn't help that I hadn't read the first book in the series before I read this one.)

The story takes place in a fictional land named Chiril. The peace in the land comes to a brutal halt when an enemy invades the land. The land's most prized possessions are three statues, and when it is decided that the statues must be hidden, a remarkable journey to the Valley of the Dragons becomes a struggle.

The people of Chiril embark not only on a journey to remain safe, but they also find that on this journey their creator, whom they have little knowledge of, Wulder becomes more real to them. In their struggle to regain peace, they also learn what it means to trust and desire a relationship with Wulder, their creator.

This has been a captivating novel, and I hope to read the first of the series soon!

I received Dragons of the Valley as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Before I even start my review, let me just say it.... WOW! Ok, with that out of my system, let's begin. :P

Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest, written by Chuck Black, is a YA fantasy book. It's published by Waterbrook Multnomah, a Christian publishing company. The novel is 182 pages in length, with discussion questions and answers following. Also in the back is a scoresheet of a song entitled The Final Call written by Emily Elizabeth Black, Chuck's talented daughter. (Also if you go to the series' website, Arrethtrae, you will find a CD of music written and performed by Emily that you can buy! You can also hear a demonstration of music.)

This is the second book that I've read in this series (Sir Rowan is the sixth book in the Knights of Arrethtrae series), and I just have to say that this series is, just simply put, excellent. (If you want to read a review I wrote on Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, click *here*.) I hold a love of fantasy, and this book definitely feeds that love. My young boys (11 and 6) love fantasy as well, and even though this story is a bit "old" for my youngest son, he could definitely appreciate it as a read-along. Even though this book is considered YA, I believe that all ages can appreciate it.

The main character of this book is a guy named Rowan. Both of his parents died, and as a result he was an urchin. A stable boy with the desire to sword fight, but a boy nonetheless with no sword. However, when a knight named Sir Aldwyn came to have his horse cared for, Rowan made a plea to hold the knight's sword. Watching the young man wield his sword, Sir Aldwyn asked him if he'd like to join him in training. Rowan wholeheartedly agreed, and was trained to be a Knight of the Prince.

Rowan quickly proved to be an excellent swordsman and rose in the ranks of sword competitors to become champion. However, the fame and fortune that he received did not do him well, but instead blinded him to his real purpose in life. After being captured and held for ransom for nearly a year, he was finally left to die by his captors when they gave up on ever receiving ransom. A woman happened along, found him, and brought him back to her home to nurse him back to health. After Rowan has had a few months to recover, he joins the Resolutes, a large group of knights and other individuals whose desire is to win back their land. However, when Rowan meets an unexpected man, his life is forever changed.

I won't spoil the ending for you, so go out and grab it! I highly recommend this book. It's enjoyable and will leave you on the edge of your seat.

I received Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, written by Chuck Black, is a YA fantasy book. It's published by Waterbrook Multnomah, a Christian publishing company. The novel is 176 pages in length, with discussion questions and answers following. Also in the back is a scoresheet of a song entitled Ride of the Valiant written by Emily Elizabeth Black, Chuck's talented daughter. (Also if you go to the series' website, Arrethtrae, you will find a CD of music written and performed by Emily that you can buy! You can also hear a demonstration of music.)

I was a little hesitant to start reading this book (the fifth one in the Knights of Arrethtrae series) without having read the previous four. I'm obsessive about chronology, so I love reading books in the order they were written. However, I delved into the book and had no trouble getting "knee deep" in the story. The action and intrigue is gripping, and it captured my attention quite quickly.

The main character is a young man referred to by friends and family as Twitch. Twitch received his name because of a twitch that would appear in his cheek when he became nervous or stressed. Twitch and his pal Gustav, whose nickname was Tav, lived together with Tav's family after Twitch's parents tragically died. Twitch and Tav are learning to become knights for the Prince (aka Jesus).

After a bizarre type of pet infiltrates the Burkfield haven where the boys were training, many of the young knights lost interest in serving the Prince. When Tav's uncle, Sir Baylor, arrived to recruit Tav as a Sword of Valor, Twitch's interest is piqued. Tav refuses to follow his uncle, but Twitch wants to go. At Mount Resolve, Twitch kneels and determines to follow the Prince, to give himself to whatever the Prince should want for him. What results from that resolution to the King was a tumult of hardship that he'd never have imagined.

I won't ruin the story for you, but Twitch, now called by his given name Quinlan, learns that following the Prince isn't always going to be a bed of roses. The fight is fierce, it's often nasty, but in the end the journey to the Kingdom Across the Sea (aka Heaven) is what we long for and is worth the wait!

I highly recommend this book for people who love fantasy. It's a great book for adolescents as well. I plan on purchasing the other books in the series so that I can read them and pass them on to my sons.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

I received Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!