It’s been roughly 16 years since I read the first two books in The Wormling series, so I decided it was high time I went back and finished reading this Christian fantasy series for middle grade readers! I recently finished reading The Changeling, book #3 in The Wormling series written by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry.
If you like portal fantasy stories, check out my spoiler-free book review in the video below!
November has come to a close and we’re already a week deep into December! We’re all set up for Christmas and looking forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus all month and into January. Last month I read 13 books, and really enjoyed many of them. In the latest vlog post, I’ll share the books I read last month and which ones I recommend!
As a Pastor to Kids, I am often asked one question that has always been tough to answer: “Do you know of a good devotional book our family could go through?” I’ve recommended some in the past, but kind of cringed at the artwork or the blocky way the text was laid out inside the devotional book. Then I heard about Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop: 52 fizztastically fun experiments and devotions for families. Now I absolutely know which devotional book I will be recommending to families: this one!
Brock Eastman has put together 52 devotions that include a Scripture passage, devotional, discussion questions, prayer prompts, and a science experiment. Each science experiment connects with the Bible story in organic and fun ways, and kids will find it easy to see the truth of God’s Word through their experiments in God’s World! Every science experiment has detailed instructions, pictures, and material lists so you’ll know exactly how to lead your family each time. The supplies aren’t super hard to find outside of online shopping or the local grocery or dollar store. The entire book is laid out in Genesis to Revelation order, which helps kids keep the flow of the story as they go along.
The artwork throughout the book is also incredible! The entire book is full color and lays flat when open so that way you don’t have to try to keep a finger on the page while you conduct your science experiments and then talk about God’s Word and World together afterward. Kids will definitely love the fun art style, and the pages are easy to read too, so your kids could read out loud even while parents and guardians listen. The book is structured more for a family to do together, not so much for a child to do on their own.
There are also five bonus devotions built around holidays with some fun and festive experiments tagging along!
This book would also work great for Children’s Pastors wanting to add an object lesson to a particular Bible story they are teaching. The experiments are all extremely visual, and there are links in the book to videos of how to do each experiment in case you get a little stuck.
Overall, this is one of the absolute best devotional books I’ve seen I think ever. It is definitely on my Top Recommended List for families looking to add a devotional practice to their spiritual formation at home.
Six years ago when I finished the last pages of Scorpia Rising, I remember feeling satisfied with the ending to an epic series, but also sad to see some of my favorite YA characters sign off for good. So when I happened to spot Never Say Die on the shelves of my local bookstore, I grabbed it with a gasp. Alex Rider was back! I raced home and plowed through Anthony Horowitz’s latest, so excited to find out what happened next to the youngest spy in MI6.
Alex is grieving the death of his caregiver and friend Jack Starbright when he receives a mysterious email that Alex believes has to have come from her. He embarks on a journey to find out anything he can about what exactly happened to Jack. Is he being manipulated again by MI6? Or has a villain from the past resurfaced to take revenge? Only Alex Rider can stop what’s coming before it’s too late. Because the fate of hundreds of lives hangs in the balance — including his own.
Horowitz is back at the top of his game with thrilling chases, huge action set pieces, and crazy revelations. I would say Horowitz is always best when he’s racing through the action, and a little weak when it comes to characters. At the beginning of the book, Alex is really processing the death of Jack, and that felt surprisingly real, along with the hope that she might be alive. Throughout the novel, we’re kept guessing whether Alex is being manipulated or whether Jack is actually alive, and Alex’s emotions trail through that journey well.
One interesting thing to note here is that the typical plot formula of an Alex Rider novel is broken with Never Say Die. Usually there is an ending stinger where the main villains return after the plot has been foiled. But this time, that does not happen. No spoilers, but it was definitely a top-notch end to an insane ride. Also, fans should rejoice, because this doesn’t sound like the end of Alex’s adventures in espionage!
If you haven’t read an Alex Rider book, what are you doing with your life? Pick up Stormbreaker and see what the hype is about. And if you’ve been a fan all along, definitely dive into this latest installment in one of Horowitz’s best series to date.
I‘ve been looking for a fun new Middle Grade series to dive into, and I must say, after pounding through Carl Ashmore’s THE TIME HUNTERS, I think I might have found it! From the thrilling mystery shot into the dark of the opening pages to the final showdown with the villains, this book does not disappoint. Epic battles, chases, intrigue, a touch of heart-warming family bonding done well, all packed into the pages of this first installment of the THE TIME HUNTERS SAGA.
Becky and Joe are pretty average kids. Or at least they think so. Because when they visit their mysterious Uncle Percy Halifax for the summer, things are definitely above average. What Uncle has a sabre tooth tiger for a pet? Or rather mysterious companions who smell slightly of time travel? For that matter, what Uncle has a mission to complete for a friend who died in his arms? What begins as curiosity ends with an epic time-traveling adventure across, well, time and space!
Overall, this book had me in its grip throughout. Lots of adventure and mystery to keep me turning pages deep into the night. However, I will say a couple times I had to push through some middle sections before the action picked up again. Becky sometimes flip-flops between seeming like a thirteen year old and a three year old, which was a little jarring. And for pages at a time I forgot that she even had a younger brother.
But if you’re looking for a fun adventure series, this one definitely fits the bill. So rev up the campervan, or your other favorite time-traveling vehicle, and head into the past. You won’t want to come back to the future until it’s over!
A year was a long time to wait for Five Kingdoms: Book 4: Death Weavers, but, a year wait does not disappoint when it comes to Brandon Mull. Mull’s signature high stakes fantasy adventure fills the pages of this next installment, and definitely leaves a few surprises for the very end that had me gasping at the last pages.
Cole and his friends have been through three of the five kingdoms in the Outskirts: Sambria, Elloweer, and the futuristic kingdom of Zeropolis. And now, they have finally ventured over into Necronum, the land of the dead. Apparitions appear frequently with slippery deals and valuable information. Hunters lick up their trail. And a mysterious fiery horse named the Mare has been sighted roaming the vast lands. When Cole’s friends fall prey to an evil entity, Cole must travel to the land inbetween the Outskirts and death and try to rescue his friends before they are separated from him for good this time.
Death Weavers felt very different from Mull’s other books, but also very similar in some ways. At this point, we have arrived at a bit of a formula for these Five Kingdoms books: find a princess, rescue the princess, and reunite her with her run-amuck power. While that structure is truly at the heart of this fourth book, there are also some other pieces at play. We finally discover more information about some of the evils lurking throughout the Outskirts, and we also learn more about what exactly has happened to bring Cole to these kingdoms. As usual, Mull is quite innovative when it comes to twisting up the typical fantasy tropes and make them into his own creations, giving us some of the most unique places in the five kingdoms yet.
However, Cole continues to remain something of a flat character. This is something I noted from previous installments in the series, and it is definitely true here. Cole has a bit of a character arc, but he feels much more typical than Seth and Kendra from Fablehaven or even Jason from Beyonders. There is something about Cole that seems to keep him stunted in character growth. Is the story still entertaining? Yes. Is it a page-turner? Oh yes. Is Cole someone worth rooting for? Sure…?
Fans of the previous books will love Death Weavers. Newcomers will definitely feel lost entering the series here, and it is really best to go back to Sky Raiders and start from there. Mull has set up some great conflicts for the last book in the series coming in another year, and it will be interesting to see how he ends up wrapping things up.
You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.
When I first heard Wayne Thomas Batson would be returning to the world of pirates, I was beside myself with excitement. Isle of Swords and Isle of Fire were two of my favorites when they first came out back in 2007 and 2008, respectively. So to hear that another installment in what was truly an incredible series of books would be arriving soon was enough to get me itching to return to a world of pirates, swordplay, and adventure. And Batson definitely does not disappoint here.
To begin with, Isle of Stars is a shorter story than the first two books in what is now known as The Isle Chronicles. The story is smaller is scope than the previous two, and the characterization is much more subdued than before. Also, Batson weaves in characters from his Dreamtreaders series, and readers unfamiliar with those books may be lost at the beginning of the book. Also, the plot device to bring in those characters from Dreamtreaders is a little forced, which may turn some readers off.
The story this time circles around Cat and Anne, who are going to be getting married soon — hopefully by Christmas, but no guarantees what with pirates about — when word arrives that the nefarious pirate, Captain Tobias Dredd has surfaced and is looking for the legendary Isle of Stars, an island that has never been desecrated by human sin. When Dredd kidnaps young Hopper, it is up to the crew of Captain Declain Ross’ ship to rescue him and stop Dredd from reaching the starlit isle before it’s too late.
Isle of Stars moves very quickly, and returns the reader to the world of the Batson’s pirates in a way that left me wanting much, much more. I was aching by the last page for another full novel set in this world, and time will tell if Batson plans to return here later. There is some violence here as well that does come across a bit shocking when it arrives, but it fits the world created here.The climax of the book does come rather quickly as well, and I had to stop and take stock of where things were at a couple of times to make sure I was still following the storyline.
All said, Isle of Stars is a very welcome addition to The Isle Chronicles, and I deeply hope Batson continues to put out more of these kinds of adventure stories. Here’s to hoping.
You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.
