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Light of the Last

April 22, 2026 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

22 Apr

Title: Light of the Last
Author: Chuck Black
Series: Wars of the Realm, book 3
Major Themes: Allegories, Science Fiction
Synopsis: As battles in the spiritual realm increase, Drew Carter must decide, once and for all, which side he’ll be on—the destiny of America may just rest on his decision.

When I first picked up Cloak of the Light, the first book in this series, I didn’t really know what to expect. It was a far cry from the Kingdom or Knights of Arrethtrae series that Chuck Black wrote initially, and frankly, I was disappointed in the story. I can handle a certain level of violence, and this was a bit too much for me. Years later, one of my brothers convinced me to try book two, and while that wasn’t quite as violent, it still wasn’t as much of a favorite as I’d hoped. Recently, I decided I really should finish the series—wrap up the character arcs, see what the end of the story looks like, and so on. So, I picked up Light of the Last. Again, it wasn’t a favorite, but I am grateful that I’ve finally gotten around to finishing the series, because it’s given me a lot of food for thought.

Publisher’s description:

To fight what others can’t, Drew Carter must see what others don’t.

After an accident left him temporarily blind, Drew Carter didn’t just regain his sight. He now sees what others can’t imagine–an entire spiritual realm of mighty beings at war.

Forget the gift, Drew just wants his life back. Part of that involves Sydney Carlyle, a woman he is inexplicably drawn to. When he’s offered the chance to become a CIA agent, it seems the way to redeem his past. The only problem—his visions of the supernatural realm are increasing in frequency.

It’s up to the warrior angel Validus and his hand-picked team of heavenly agents to protect the unbelieving Drew. Validus now knows that the young man is at the epicenter of a global spiritual war, and the angels must use a millennia of battle experience to keep Drew alive, for the Fallen want him dead.

Surrounded by spiritual warriors and targeted by demons, Drew’s faced with an impossible decision that will forever alter the destiny of America…and his own soul.

My thoughts:

Unlike the Kingdom and Knights of Arrethtrae series, which are great for the 10-14 year age range, I would classify this series as best for only high teens on up. These books deal with some very heavy content, and I’d classify them as something close to suspense/thrillers. I haven’t read any Frank Peretti books yet, but I imagine that these are similar to his This Present Darkness or something along those lines. These may not be quite so dark or intense, but I would definitely put them both in the same genre. For that reason, I did struggle with this story. I’m not into horror, and while this book was not in that genre, parts of it bordered on that, in my opinion—I could barely stand to read a couple of pages (hence why I haven’t read This Present Darkness; I may never get to the point where I’m ready for it).

On the plus side, while these books are somewhat dark, violent, and sometimes gruesome, they also possess some incredible redeeming qualities. I loved watching Drew change and grow throughout the course of the book. I also enjoyed getting Validus’ perspective as an angel trying to protect humans—that was fascinating. This book encouraged me to pray more, even when it seems like life is not going the way it should go. God is still in control! And it was also a gripping read—I finished it pretty quickly!

If you enjoy books that deal with spiritual warfare and have a decent amount of action as well as some internal conflict, I’d recommend you check out Light of the Last and its two prequels. My two oldest brothers (both high teens/early 20s) enjoyed these books, and found them encouraging. Personally, I prefer stories that don’t have quite as intense physical conflict, so for that reason, this book wasn’t my favorite. I’m not sorry I’ve read it, though—Black is a great author, and this book had a lot of truth in it.

WARNING: There is a lot of fighting in this book, and angels frequently kill or are killed. I’ve noted the scenes that I found particularly gruesome below. Sometimes, there is physical fighting with people getting hurt; other times, it’s just in the spiritual world. Many scenes are fairly tense and/or violent (there is quite a bit of self-defense in the story). Also occasionally, an unmarried couple holds hands or hugs. Heck is used in ch. 8, 9, 10, 16, 19, 20, and 29; I swear is used in ch. 13; blasted is used in ch. 14 and 25; good grief is used in ch. 18; oh, crud is used in ch. 23; what in Jack’s name and blast it are used in ch. 25; and you dawg is used in ch. 28. Characters frequently lie throughout the story, almost always in an effort to protect others. Chapter 6: Scene inside a Nazi death camp, finding a child alive amidst dead bodies, man killed. Chapter 9: A mention of drinking. Chapter 11: Suicide bombing, with multiple people killed. Chapter 21: Man killed and others injured. Chapters 25 and 26 show a particularly violent fight scene (rather gruesome, in my opinion), with multiple people killed and some dying agonizing deaths. Chapter 29 has another fairly gruesome fight scene with many people killed—not quite as bad as ch. 25–26, but still more graphic than I care to read about.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | MP3 CD
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

The Frindle Files

April 20, 2026 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

20 Apr

Title: The Frindle Files
Author: Andrew Clements
Major Themes: Language, Technology
Synopsis: Josh is sure Mr. N has it in for his class, since he’s the only teacher who requires everything to be written by hand—but when an old secret comes to light, can Josh use it to his advantage and bring change to the classroom?

Andrew Clements has been one of my favorite children’s authors for many years now. Not all of his books are hits for me, but I clearly remember reading Frindle for the first time while I was still in school and loving it—so when I saw that The Frindle Files was being released, I knew I wanted to read it. What a great story! It’s sad to think this is the last Clements book to be published, but I think there’s something fitting in having these two stories act as “bookends” to his writing career.

Publisher’s description:

In the long-awaited follow-up to the beloved classic Frindle, a new generation of kids discovers the power of words and imagination—and yes, even screens—to solve a mystery and change their world!

Josh Willet is a techie, a serious gamer. Which is why Josh and his friends can’t stand Mr. N’s ELA class; it’s a strict no-tech zone. Mr. N makes them write everything out by hand, he won’t use a Smartboard, and he’s obsessed with some hundred-year-old grammar book. Then Josh discovers a secret; turns out Mr. N’s been keeping a lot more than technology from his students! Together with his best friend Vanessa, and using all the computer skills they’ve got, Josh is determined to solve the mystery of Mr. N’s past. And maybe get some screentime back, too?

Andrew Clements’s final novel is a timely one—about the importance of language, the changes that come along with technology (good and bad), and how sometimes you have to challenge what you think you know. Set a whole generation later, this novel can be read on its own or alongside Frindle and is destined to become another timeless classic.

My thoughts:

One of the first things that struck me in this story was just how much has changed in the education world since Frindle was first published. Those differences are the point of this story, to some extent, and while this book had the potential to be preachy, it didn’t get that way, in my opinion. I appreciated getting the perspective Clements gives here.

In Frindle, technology in classrooms didn’t extend much further than a hand-held calculator. Students used pens, pencils, and paper to write out their stories, and didn’t really have any other option. In The Frindle Files, however, Josh and all his friends have their own computers, and whenever possible, they do their homework online. So why does Mr. N have to be such a stick in the mud about writing everything out by hand?

Some things don’t change over the decades (and, if I remember correctly, there were close to three decades between the publication dates of these two books). Things like student-teacher relationships can still be difficult, and students still have work to do, even if it looks different these days. But what I loved about this book is that it illustrates that relationships still need to be worked on to grow, and sometimes having something physical rather than digital can have its benefits. There’s also a fun mystery throughout this story!

This also gives some excellent food for thought around the whole technology boom—asking questions like, is it good for us? What is right and wrong to do on a computer? I was surprised to hear a little bit about online pirating in this book; that’s something that doesn’t feature in fiction very often!

If you enjoyed Frindle or any of Clements’ other books, The Frindle Files is another solid story to add to the lineup. I came away from the story impressed and very thankful to have had the chance to read it. Oh, and don’t miss Mr. N’s time with his daughter—that was pretty sweet!

No warnings!

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

The Wolf Dog

April 17, 2026 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

17 Apr

Title: The Wolf Dog
Author: Ken Anderson
Major Themes: Animals, Friendship
Synopsis: Tooley Paggert’s home life isn’t great, and when a puppy arrives to brighten his days, he is determined to keep him—whatever the cost.

When I was a youngster, my parents got me a cassette tape player to listen to stories with. I used that thing hard, and I’m fairly certain I went through more than one tape player as I grew older! We had a decent collection of audiobooks, and I listened to the ones I loved the best over and over again. The Wolf Dog was one of those probably over-read books, but I loved it—the heartbreaking setting, the boy’s love for his dog, the gentle kindness of the village pastor—it all came together as a masterpiece in my mind. My brothers didn’t like it so much, for some reason, but it stuck with me, and now, many years after I stopped using tape players, I decided it was about time to put the physical book on my shelf.

Publisher’s description:

Tooley Paggert had faith in his dog Gyp, even though Gyp was part wolf-faith that remained unshaken in the face of evidence that Gyp was turning into a sheep-killer. What if his mother did as she had threatened and turned Gyp over to the police? Tooley’s faith in his dog and his faith in God make this a thrilling and inspiring story.

My thoughts:

I’m so glad I was able to find a copy of this book to add to my collection! I’ve had it sitting on my TBR shelf ever since it arrived here, and I finally took the time to sit down and read it last Sunday. I’d forgotten what an engaging story this is—and even now, 15 years or more since I last read it, I still felt Tooley’s pain, anger at his mom, and his love for Gyp.

Sometimes, rereading childhood favorites can be disappointing. I loved Elsie Dinsmore as a girl, but when I listened to the story again recently, I wondered what I’d ever seen in the book. It’s still a good story, but I found Elsie’s much-too-perfect faith a bit annoying—so when I approached The Wolf Dog, I wondered if my perspective would be changed on this story, too. Thankfully, I didn’t find that overly-perfect form of Christianity in this book. Yes, Tooley does seem to grasp parts of the Christian faith rather quickly, but he doesn’t always make the best or wisest decisions, which makes him feel human and relatable.

I’d love to know where The Wolf Dog is set; no country or area is ever mentioned. The story itself feels fairly dated—I haven’t been able to find an exact original publication date, but I’d guess before 1950. As it is, this is a striking picture of how even the simple things in life can bring a great deal of joy, and also showcases the life-transforming power of the gospel. I’ve always adored the ending—that makes the book! If you’re looking for a solid, classic-feeling story that you can finish in just a couple of hours, I’d recommend you check out this story. It’s a keeper!

WARNING: Chapter 1: Boy thinks about how children call him “Rattlebones” because he’s crippled; people throughout the book talk to or about him in a derogatory fashion because of his physical deformity. Chapters 2 and 5: Woman hits a boy. Chapter 5: Boy hurt, woman tries to kill a dog. Chapter 9: Man drunk (there are mentions he’s a drunkard in other places; never shown in a good light). Gypsies are mentioned in a derogatory way once or twice.

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

The Whisper of Glocken

April 15, 2026 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

15 Apr

Title: The Whisper of Glocken
Author: Carol Kendall
Series: Minnipins, book 2
Major Themes: Fantasy, Adventure Stories
Synopsis: When the Watercress river reverses direction, flooding the Minnipin valley and destroying villages, the New Heroes must take a treacherous journey to discover the cause and reverse it, if possible.

Years ago, I read The Gammage Cup as part of our school curriculum. I loved the story—simple in many ways, but with vivid, complex characters and an intriguing adventure. I reread it recently as a family read-aloud, and we all enjoyed it again. Then, even more recently, I discovered that there was a sequel to the story—The Whisper of Glocken. That soon joined the lineup of family read-alouds, and we finished it a couple of weeks ago.

Publisher’s description:

The world has gone wrong.

Rivers flow backwards, whole towns vanish underwater, and the life of every Minnipin is in danger.

The outlaw heroes from The Gammage Cup—older now and needed at home—cannot journey forth to uncover the source of the troubles. Instead, five unlikely Minnipins find themselves drafted as heroes…in spite of their protests that they are not heroes at all.

But what is a hero, anyway? A larger-than-life figure full of swagger? Or just an ordinary someone, like Glocken and his comrades—Minnipins who will march across an unforgiving desert into who-knows-what, battling horrors large and small just because everything and everyone they care for depends on them.

My thoughts:

In my opinion, this book isn’t as good as The Gammage Cup. There was a lot to enjoy in the story—it’s another epic adventure with the Minnipins—but in my opinion, it doesn’t have quite the same oomph you find in the first book. It took us over a month to get through the story, which isn’t always an indication of how much we enjoy (or don’t enjoy) a book, but I noticed my siblings weren’t as connected to the plot as the first book—there wasn’t as many pleas for “just one more chapter!” as we get with other books.

Still, this was a very fun story. I love how the Minnipins live relatively simple lives, happy with whatever career they find themselves in. Their language and names for things can be a lot of fun—often, characters’ names reflect their occupation in some way. Then there’s the whole journey aspect of the book—venturing into the unknown outside of the protecting mountains they’ve always known, encountering creatures they’ve never seen before (one lot, in particular, were our favorites—the first descriptions of them had us in gales of laughter!). And as the main characters got closer to figuring out what was wrong with their river, I enjoyed watching them doing their best to sort things out, even when events were catastrophically out of control.

If you enjoyed The Gammage Cup, you’d likely enjoy The Whisper of Glocken, too. One brother said that elements of the story reminded him of other stories—“And this feels like a bit of a cheap knock-off”—but in my opinion, it was still a delightful, engaging story with a satisfying ending. I doubt I’ll ever read the book again, but I enjoyed going through it once and sharing the reading experience with my family.

WARNING: Chapter 2: Man remembers seeing his parents fall to their deaths. Chapter 8: Man hurt, something killed. Chapter 11: Something killed with an arrow, lying. Chapter 16: A brief fight with a sword; man injured.

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

What Happens Next

April 13, 2026 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

13 Apr

Title: What Happens Next
Author: Christina Suzann Nelson
Major Themes: Mysteries, Dual-Timeline, Small-Town
Synopsis: When asked to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her childhood best friend, Faith Byrne is forced to face her own past as she tries to find answers to another family’s pain.

I was talking to a friend recently, sharing how I used to enjoy reading mysteries, but fell out of the habit years ago, and haven’t quite found my way back yet. “Why don’t you try What Happens Next?” she suggested, so I did—and I’m so glad I took her recommendation! This ended up being a fascinating read!

Publisher’s description:

“Everyone has a story, and maybe everyone needs a little help toward healing.”

Popular podcaster and ex-reporter Faith Byrne made a name for herself telling stories of greatness after tragedy—but her real life does not mirror the stories she tells. While her daughters spend the summer in Hawaii with her ex-husband and his new wife, she must manage life on her own. All of that changes when she’s asked to spotlight her childhood best friend’s missing person case on her podcast.

Dora Crane has never accepted that her younger daughter could be dead, keeping her home looking the same as when her daughter disappeared. But when her husband leaves her and her older daughter intervenes, she agrees to counseling and to pack up her missing daughter’s belongings under one condition: Faith Byrne comes to Deep Valley and sheds light on the cold case.

As the long-abandoned investigation moves forward, old wounds and long-buried secrets are exposed. Will these two women, whose lives have never been the same, finally get the answers they need to reconcile the past and the future?

My thoughts:

I connected with Faith almost right away. She’s the kind of character you can empathize with immediately, especially with everything going on in her life at the beginning of the book. Then, when she’s asked to research what happened with her childhood best friend, things get a little complicated…I loved how that research stretched both her professional and personal life! I also loved how her research led her to meet Dora, and the way both women were so similar, yet so different, and how they were both able to grow together through the story.

The mystery side of the story was excellent. I’m not one to puzzle out a mystery, but I definitely had my suspects from fairly early on, although I was kept guessing until the big reveal. The tension was definitely kept up through the dual-timeline nature of the story; I loved the descriptions of that one idyllic summer, and the joy and freedom the children experienced just to be children then. That part was great.

The only thing that I wasn’t so excited about is the fact that Faith is divorced at the beginning of the story, and partway through, meets someone whom she will likely marry sometime after the book ends. It’s not a major part of the story, but it is there.

I’m not sure I could pinpoint one particular favorite part of What Happens Next. I do know that even a month or more after finishing the book, I felt like I was still trying to process the story. I enjoyed all three points of view and couldn’t wait to come back to each one. Every single person felt real to me. I enjoyed the faith journey in the story, especially as it related to learning to work through grief (there’s a lot of internal work/conflict that happens in the book, which I loved). I also loved the small-town feel to the story, Faith’s love for her children, and her podcast (which I wish I could listen to). If you enjoy mysteries, I’d highly recommend you check this one out.

WARNING: Chapter 7: Oh my goodness. Chapter 22: For goodness’s sakes. Chapter 23: Oh my goodness. Chapter 27: Lying. Chapter 32: Blasted. Chapter 37: Lying. Chapter 39: Man holds a woman’s hand. Chapter 57: Oh goodness. Chapter 62: Unmarried kiss.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com