Revenge of the Red Knight by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker

In this latest book of the Imagination Station Series, Beth and Patrick have traveled through time again, but this time they have no idea what time period they are in when they get to their destination.  The time machine has just picked a location and sent them there after their successful mission in China with the golden tablet.  We finally get to learn who the mysterious Albert is.  We also learn who the knight is and how he is able to follow them in the Imagination Station around through time.    Will Beth and Patrick be able to save Albert?  You'll have to read Revenge of the Red Knight to find out.

I have had the opportunity to review all 4 of the books in this series thus far.  I've really enjoyed reading them, and I think they would make a wonderful addition to any library for kids ages 7 and up. It has proven to be a delightful series filled with mystery, but also includes some history as well.  So, if you're looking for a good series that will encourage your child to read, make sure to pick this one up!  Look for book 5 in the series called: Showdown with a Shepherd where Beth and Patrick travel back in time to the Holy Land in the 10th century B.C.

*I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf

A Reluctant Queen is a story based on the life of Esther.  I think knowing that this book is based on the story and not an accurate re-telling of the story is key.  While many of the elements are from the story we have read in the Bible narrative, additional ideas have been added to the story to fill in the gaps.  The differences are discussed at the end of the book by the author in the chapter entitled "Author's Note." For example, Esther does not marry King Xerxes, but instead marries a fictional character named Ahasuerus who is Xerxes brother.  The characters we all know--Haman, and Mordecai--are still in the story.  The book helps to re-create living in the Persian Empire and brings the story of Esther alive with a little romance.

Joan Wolf does a great job helping your imagination come to life while reading this wonderful story about Esther.  It allows you to think through all the possibilities that might have happened while she was queen and the emotional struggle she must of went through.  I'm anxious to read back through the biblical narrative again now that I've read through this book.  While I really enjoyed reading this book,  I would suggest that this not be on the the reading list for teenagers.  Obviously, Esther does marry the king and the book brings up what it must of been like for her to have that first night with this man she hardly knew.  While everything was done tastefully in the book, I would suggest this book for a more mature audience.  This book was delightful to read and made me really think about the culture of the day and what is must of been like for the Jewish girl to have the courage for such a huge task.

**I was given this e-book by Booksneeze Blogger's Program in exchange for an honest opinion. 

While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry with Denise George

This book was on my list for the summer reading program at Tyndale house publishers.  You can sign up for that program here.  After reading this book, I found that I knew very little about the civil rights movement.  Of course, I had heard about Martin Luther King jr., who hadn't.  I mean, we do have a day named after him on our calendars, but I really didn't understand the whole struggle that the African-Americans went through in the south....particularly Birmingham, Alabama.  This story is written by a survivor of the Sixteenth Baptist Church  bombing that happened on September 15, 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama.  She recalls her journey through that awful time in our nation's history and the lessons she learned as she tried to deal with the devastating depression she faced after the horrific incident.
I really enjoyed reading this book.  I love history and reading this book was helpful in helping me to understand what the civil rights movement was all about.  I was born in the 1970's and lived in the north.  I had no connection to the south and really didn't understand what the African-American struggle was all about.  After reading all of the atrocities they had to endure, it makes me sick to my stomach to think that so many were treated in such a horrific way.  What courage it took for the many who did stand up to the treatment and voice their right to freedom.  This book is a great read and I would encourage everyone to read it.  

**I checked this book out from my local library. 

Summer Reading Fun!

If you want to be involved with a summer reading program, Tyndale house is giving a free book for every 5 books you read from their list of books. I'm just getting the books from my local library.   Books you can win? Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity, Francine River's Her Mother's Hope and Her Daughter's Dream...and many others to choose from. So, click here and sign up today to start earning free books.

Peril in the Palace by Paul McCusker and Marianne Hering (AIO Imagination Station Book 3)

The last 2 books are out for the Imagination Station series.  I just finished reading book 3 Peril in the Palace.  This book was another exciting adventure in the continuation of the quest to save Mr. Whittaker's friend, Albert.  You can read my reviews of book 1 here and book 2 here.  Much like the other books, Patrick and Beth learn about the history and culture of the time they have been transported to.  In this book, they travel back in time to the year 1271 to the land of China to meet Kublai Khan.  Their mission is to find the golden tablet of Kublai Khan.  Mr. Whittaker gives them several packages to give to others as gifts in order to help them with their mission.   Some of the gifts prove helpful, while others do not seem to work and get them into more trouble.  You'll have to read the book to find out if they complete their mission in finding the golden tablet in time to help Mr. Whittaker's friend, Albert.

I really liked the previous 2 books of this series and the third book did not disappoint.   The books are great for this age group (ages 7 and up).  I think that the writing is well done and that the plot will keep the young reader's attention.   I definitely recommend this series!  You can read the first 5 pages of the 4th book in the series The Revenge of the Red Knight here on Adventures in Odyssey's The Imagination Station website.  Just click on the read button that says Watch a Click Book.

****Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Tyndale House has free E-books for June

This month Tyndale house is offering several of their books for free in an e-book version.  You can find the list here on the their website.  If you don't have an e-reader, you can download an application for your computer.  Tyndale House has a list of all the current readers available for download.  Click here to read.