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Perils of the Produce Patch

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Perils of the Produce Patch by Katrina Hoover Lee

Title: Perils of the Produce Patch
Author: Katrina Hoover Lee
Series: The Brady Street Boys, book 7
Major Themes: Indiana, Gardening, Farmers Market
Synopsis: When they arrive home from their adventurous trip to search for the elusive Dr. Jefferson, Gary and his brothers want to rest—but Mom needs their help with a lot of jobs!

We have been eagerly anticipating the release of Perils of the Produce Patch, book seven in the Brady Street Boys series. It finally came this week! I quickly read it so that I could write a review, and I will read it to the children as soon as we finish a different book that we’re in the middle of.

Publisher’s description:

A boy hoping to relax. A harvest that needs to be sold. Will his discouragement blind him to the lessons God is teaching?

Gary Fitzpatrick is exhausted. After traveling across the country in a fruitless search for the surgeon who amputated his leg, the sensitive thirteen-year-old and his brothers just want rest. But they’re barely through the door at home when he learns their mom is busy caring for an abandoned baby and needs them to manage the community garden.

Further frustrated when their $500 prize money goes missing, the weary boy is mildly relieved after they get permission to sell their own goods in addition to the produce at the market. But when they discover running a business isn’t as easy as it looks and an accident gets them kicked out in disgrace, Gary struggles to follow his father’s advice and focus on faith.

As the weeds of trouble grow wild, can he stifle his anger to remain strong and obedient?

My thoughts:

As with the previous books in the series, I have been quite impressed with the way Katrina Hoover Lee spins an exciting story, while making sure that her characters live by God’s principles. For example, when one of the boys made false accusations against someone, he apologized and made it right as far as he could. Throughout the story, the boys learn about faith in their summer project of studying the Fruits of the Spirit. I can recommend Perils of the Produce Patch, along with the whole series, for any family with children who enjoy exciting stories. These books are unashamedly Christian without being preachy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

No warnings!

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12

Links to buy this book:

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

A Light Undimmed

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A Light Undimmed by April W Gardner

Title: A Light Undimmed: A Novel of Biblical Jerusalem and Babylon’s Siege
Author: April W Gardner
Series: Yoke of Babylon, book 1
Major Themes: Jerusalem, Babylonians, Ancient Times, Israel
Synopsis: Liora didn’t know what she was getting into when her king ordered her to take a message to Nebuzaradan, the leader of the Babylonian armies besieging her city of Jerusalem.

A year ago, April Gardner asked for people to read her first Biblical fiction novel and give her feedback on this new-to-her genre. I read her book about Obadiah, A Hope Fulfilled, and somewhat enjoyed it, but I found it too heavy on the romance for me. This year, she asked for readers for her second Biblical fiction book, A Light Undimmed. I told her I was willing to read it but that I wouldn’t guarantee a positive review. She was willing to send me a copy anyway, so I read it.

Publisher’s description:

In besieged Jerusalem, a Judean noblewoman is thrust into the perilous role of courier. Sent to Babylon’s commanding general, she soon discovers she is more than a messenger—she’s a pawn to a wicked king and a servant to a mighty God. Most surprising yet is the curious mind of Babylon’s bloodiest general—could Judah’s Yahweh truly be the God Most High?

Faced with the impossible, Liora must be bold, speak Truth, and do so without knowing whether the Butcher of Babylon will release her in the end…or keep her as his own.

In this tale of war, deception, and betrayal, one woman emerges as a beacon, a light undimmed in the shadows of Jerusalem’s ruins.

My thoughts:

I was quite surprised by how A Light Undimmed drew me in! I ended up reading it about twice as fast as I do most books of this length, and I kept finding myself reading several more pages every time I picked it up—when I should have been laying it down and getting on with my work! In other words, this story destroyed my self-control when it came to reading. Then, I turned a page and saw the words “Thank you for reading.” What?! The story was not ended. Now, the author has made it so I have to read another book, and it isn’t even available yet!

I can’t remember reading more than one or two other books about the conquest of Jerusalem by Babylon, and never one from this perspective. The main character in this story is actually not Liora, through whose point of view the story is told—it’s actually Nebuzaradan, the leader of the Babylonian armies! I found this a fascinating study of him and how he may have decided to free Jeremiah when he took the city. I was also fascinated by the tie-in to Isaiah 4, since our home church is studying that book right now. I appreciated having a new understanding of the fall of Jerusalem.

After reading A Hope Fulfilled, I was a bit worried that A Light Undimmed would be more romantic than I like. There is a strong romantic element, but it never went farther than I like, and felt realistic. I can hardly wait to read book 2—and apparently there is a book 3 planned for this series! I will definitely offer to help April Gardner launch those books, as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: Chapter 1: Many heads on stakes, the stench of death. Chapter 2: Men groping a woman. Chapter 3: Potential punishment described. Chapter 8: Memory of a man attempting rape, man beaten and stabbed. Chapter 9: Men will slay the virgins after they have their sport. Chapter 15: Attempted rape, stabbing. 

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

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

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette

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The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

Title: The Penderwicks at Point Mouette
Author: Jeanne Birdsall
Series: The Penderwicks, book 3
Major Themes: Maine, Family
Synopsis: After the family splits up for the summer holidays, Skye finds herself being the oldest in her family—and she doesn’t think she can handle that!

We are thoroughly enjoying reading through the Penderwicks series. We just finished the third book and are looking forward to reading number four. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette was a bit different from the first two because the family was not together. We loved it, though. There were some pretty funny bits, as well as a very serious string of events.

Publisher’s description:

When summer comes around, it’s off to the beach for Rosalind…and off to Maine with Aunt Claire for the rest of the Penderwick girls, as well as their old friend, Jeffrey.

That leaves Skye as OAP (Oldest Available Penderwick)—a terrifying notion for all, but for Skye especially. Things look good as they settle into their cozy cottage, with a rocky shore, enthusiastic seagulls, a just-right corner store, and a charming next-door neighbor. But can Skye hold it together long enough to figure out Rosalind’s directions about not letting Batty explode? Will Jane’s Love Survey come to a tragic conclusion after she meets the alluring Dominic? Is Batty—contrary to all accepted wisdom—the only Penderwick capable of carrying a tune? And will Jeffrey be able to keep the peace between the girls…these girls who are his second, and most heartfelt, family?

It’s a rollicking ride as the Penderwicks continue their unforgettable adventures and discover how much can happen in two weeks at the beach in a story filled with laughs and joyful tears!

My thoughts:

The concept of OAP has entered our family culture as a result of reading the Penderwicks books, although, of course, it would be a different final letter in our family! It was pretty funny reading about Skye’s struggles with being the OAP. She was sure that something horrible would happen to Batty. And then, she made a discovery that threatened to ruin the entire summer. How could the Penderwicks, Jeffery, and their new friends work through the resulting upheaval? And could the sisters help Jane recover from her great disappointment? We loved reading about this family and how they worked together and helped each other. Even though there were a few elements of The Penderwicks at Point Mouette that I didn’t appreciate, I loved the book as a whole.

WARNING: Chapter 1: Mention of voodoo dolls, a blood oath. Chapter 9: “Holy bananas,” making wishes to the Firegod (mentioned again several times throughout the book). Chapter 10: Boy kisses girl. Chapter 12: Mention of movie with sheep inhabited by evil spirits. Chapter 13: Who the heck. Chapter 14: Mention of voodoo dolls. Chapter 15: By heavens. Chapter 16: “Cursing herself…”

Age levels:

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

Links to buy this book:

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

Eve’s Daughters

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Eve's Daughters by Lynn Austin

Title: Eve’s Daughters
Author: Lynn Austin
Major Themes: Germany, Pennsylvania, Marriage, Solo Parenting
Synopsis: When long-buried secrets are discovered, will lives be torn apart—or healed?

Every year I do a reading challenge that has a prompt for each month. The prompt this month was a book with more than two points of view. As I perused our shelves, I found Eve’s Daughters by Lynn Austin, which I had been wanting to read for a while anyway. So, a few days ago, I picked it up and began. Last night, I stayed up late to finish it.

Publisher’s description:

Is there a secret terrible enough that it should never be revealed, not even if it was tearing a family apart? For more than five decades Emma Bauer has kept one—carefully guarding it with all her strength, and for more than five decades that choice has haunted her life and also the lives of her daughters and granddaughter. Is it too late for wrongs to be righted? Does Emma even have the strength to let the healing power of truth work in her family?

The story of four generations of women and the powerful effects that their choices have had on their lives is at the heart of Eve’s Daughters, an epic novel from author Lynn Austin. Grand in scope but tender and personal at the same time, it will please you as a fan of contemporary or historical fiction.

Exploring times from World War I to the 1980s, Eve’s Daughters is an insightful look at mothers, daughters, sisters, and families that allows you to see a little bit of yourself through the characters’ triumphs, struggles, and hard-tested faith.

Yearning for love, dignity, and freedom, the four generations of women must come to terms with the choices they have made. Healing comes when the past is forgiven but only when they embrace God’s forgiveness can they shatter the cycle that has ruled their lives over the decades.

My thoughts:

I found myself quite engrossed with the stories of all these women. Each one had a different set of life experiences and challenges, and each one reacted differently to those challenges. Taken all together, though, all these disparate stories made one story that contributed to understanding how each woman had become what she was. There were beautiful examples of love in this book, and of selfishness. Some of the people responded to hard situations by becoming loving and gentle, while others became harsh and angry.

I’ve found myself thinking about Eve’s Daughters a lot in the week or two since I finished reading it. (Yes, it is taking me a while to get this review written!) Of the dozen books I finished this month, this one is my favorite, not because it is a feel-good story, but because of the depth. I loved watching each of the women learn and grow, both in their relationships with others and in their love for God, in the course of the story.

If you read the warnings, you will notice that there are several references to marital intimacy. There was another scene in which an unmarried couple spent a night together, resulting in pregnancy. All these scenes were carefully written, though, and I would not have a problem with my upper-teenage daughter reading this book.

WARNING: Chapter 2: Allusion to marital intimacy. Chapter 3: Thoughts about marital intimacy. Chapter 15: Demands for marital rights. Chapter 16: Attempted abortion. Chapter 24: Darn, geez. Chapter 25: Gee, kissing, like blazes, rioters hurt in battle with police. Chapter 26: Gee.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

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

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

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When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr

Title: When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Author: Judith Kerr
Series: Out of the Hitler Time, book 1
Major Themes: Germany, Switzerland, France, World War II, Jewish Holocaust
Synopsis: As Hitler came into power, Anna’s father decided that her family needed to leave Germany—but where could they all be together?

I don’t remember why one of my children chose When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit for me to read aloud a little while ago, but I was glad that he did. It is one of those books that has been languishing on the shelf for a long time with no one even looking at it, much less opening it. I had forgotten that it was a true story, but out turns out to be autobiographical, and, even better, the first of a trilogy about the author’s experiences as a child during the years when Hitler was in power.

Publisher’s description:

Partly autobiographical, this is the first of the internationally acclaimed trilogy by Judith Kerr telling the unforgettable story of a Jewish family fleeing from Germany at the start of the Second World War.

Suppose your country began to change. Suppose that without your noticing, it became dangerous for some people to live in Germany any longer. Suppose you found, to your complete surprise, that your own father was one of those people.

That is what happened to Anna in 1933. She was nine years old when it began, too busy with her schoolwork and tobogganing to take much notice of political posters, but out of them glared the face of Adolf Hitler, the man who would soon change the whole of Europe—starting with her own small life.

Anna suddenly found things moving too fast for her to understand. One day, her father was unaccountably missing. Then she and her brother Max were being rushed by their mother, in alarming secrecy, away from everything they knew—home and schoolmates and well-loved toys—right out of Germany.…

My thoughts:

I found Anna’s perspective of events quite interesting. As a nine-year-old, she had no idea of the dangers and tensions surrounding her Jewish family in Germany as Adolf Hitler seized power—but her father could see what was coming. She couldn’t understand why her family had to suddenly, secretly, leave everything behind, but she made the best of it. According to Max’s new book, the sure prerequisite for greatness was having a difficult childhood—but obviously, she was not destined to be great, because her childhood was not difficult! I loved the reasoning that brought her to that conclusion.

Most books about Hitler and Germany focus on the events of the war and the Holocaust. I like this peek at the very beginning of Hitler’s era (the story begins the week before the election that put Hitler into power), through the eyes of a child who didn’t understand what was happening. This was a very gentle introduction to the Holocaust. I’m glad I finally got to read When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit again, and now I want to read the two sequels.

WARNING: Chapter 9: Gosh. Chapter 10: Dog dies; man suggests it was suicide. Chapter 23: Man commits suicide.

Age levels:

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

Links to buy this book:

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