Book Review of "The Two Princesses of Bamarre" by Gail Carson Levine

This book is a tale of two sisters: Adelina and Meryl, the princesses of the magical land of Bamarre. Meryl is blonde and brave. She longs to go on quests to battle the ogres, dragons, gryphons, and specters that plague their land.  Adelina is dark-haired and timid. She is afraid of everything; from monsters right down to spiders. One day something occurs that will change the course of both sisters lives forever. Meryl falls ill to the Gray Death, an incurable disease that strikes suddenly and takes swiftly. Adelina knows there is a cure out there somewhere. Propelled by a love that is stronger than fear she embarks on a quest to save her sisters life.   

Written by the author of Newbery Medal winner “Ella Enchanted,” this story is one of my favorite fantasy novels. It combines fantastical creatures and occurrences with the relatable story of a sibling bond that is so strong it is unbreakable. What touched me most about this story is the love that Adelina has for Meryl, a love that moves her to do above and beyond what she thought she could. This novel is sure to move you, excite you, and enchant you in a way that only the best fantasy authors can.

Inspirations 4 Writing

Consider writing a story about a relationship between two or more people: siblings, friends, etc. Don’t merely state in your story that these characters love each other so much they would do anything for each other. Have the characters demonstrate this by their actions, as Adelina demonstrated it by risking her own life for her sister. Actions often speak louder then words. 

Book review of "In Search of Honor" by Donna Lynn Hess

 “In Search of Honor” is a stunning piece of Christian Fiction that grabs your attention and does not let go. The main character in the story is Jacques Chenier, a young man who lives in the chaotic times that mark the outset of the French Revolution. At age 15 Jacques is already known as a master sculptor, yet he is angry and bitter about life. He holds the nobility responsible for the death of his parents and he longs for revenge. Yet another part of him also longs for peace and tranquility of heart. His actions and the actions of those around him cause him to encounter people and places he would never have predicted coming across: everything and everyone from a cell in the dreaded Bastille to such leaders of the Revolution as Georges Danton and Robespierre. 

This book is a wonderful example of how a deep message can be communicated through the form of exciting historical fiction. In his adventures Jacques comes to question what is more important; the honor and recognition of man or the honor that only God gives. This is the kind of story that you will want to tell everyone about as soon as you complete it.

Inspirations 4 Writing

 Be inspired in your own writing by how Donna Lynn Hess can intrigue you, entertain you, and teach you through her writing. I was certainly inspired by the message she was able to portray in the story of young Jacques. Instead of telling you what God does in the life of an individual she showed you what He could do, all through a fictional character in an historical setting.   

Book Review of "After the Dancing Days" by Margaret I. Rostkowski

This book paints a poignant picture of how things were like just after the first world war, or “after the dancing days.” Annie is a 13-year-old girl who has just been reunited with her dad after he was away for over a year because of the war. Right before she is reunited with him at the train station, she sees a veteran soldier carried off the train on a stretcher: his face had somehow been totally deformed. Nothing about him looked normal, until he opened his eyes, which were a deep brown, just like her own. Try as she might, from that moment on Annie cannot forget that ravaged face or those eyes. By chance, she meets up with this soldier again at a hospital. Though others might shun him because of his appearance, Annie decides she wants to pursue a friendship with the young soldier, angry and bitter as he is about the war.

This book illustrates in a tangible way what can happen when a person looks beyond the forbidding exterior of another person and down into that person’s heart. Oftentimes, if one decides to brave the things about a person that make him or her seem unapproachable, a wonderful friendship can blossom as a result. This book is a must-read for all historical-fiction fans.

Inspirations 4 Writing

An author’s use of words in describing things often are what makes those descriptions so memorable. The author of “After the Dancing Days” carefully used words that made you picture everything vividly. She did not use too many words. She did not use too few. Be inspired by this. See how you can choose words in your own writing that capture the essence of what you are trying to say. Make each word count.

Book review of "A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray" by Ann M. Martin

This unique novel is the first-person account of a stray dog who relates her life to you, beginning with her puppy years and ending when she is an elderly dog. With the progression of the story you become increasingly attached to Squirrel, the lost puppy whose mother left one day and never returned. Squirrel and her brother Bone must survive on their own in the world, attempting to stay far from danger and find food, as best as two small puppies can.

The heartwarming story of a stray dog is a deceptively simple one. At first it seems merely a children’s bedtime story, but this well-written tale is bound to intrigue people of all ages, even some adults.  Many times  it is the story that begins with a relatively simple idea and plotline that develops into a well-loved book. I hope this book encourages writers that you do not have to have a lofty and complicated plotline to have a book that will be cherished forever. 

Inspirations 4 Writing

Be inspired with how the author took a simple idea and made a heartwarming story out of it. Think of something relatively simple: a boy who builds a tree house, a lost cat, a girl who wants a doll, etc. Then write a story about it connecting your readers with the characters in a very real way.