Book Review: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Title: Hatchet

Series Title: Brian's Saga (Book 1)

Author: Gary Paulsen

Genre: Young Adult Survival

Date Published: November 1, 1986

Why I Read This Book: My husband loved this book when he was younger. I remember reading it in elementary school, but I did not really enjoy it back then. I re-read this book to give it a second chance.

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

"Brian is on his way to Canada to visit his estranged father when the pilot of his small prop plane suffers a heart attack. Brian is forced to crash-land the plane in a lake--and finds himself stranded in the remote Canadian wilderness with only his clothing and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present before his departure..." [Note: synopsis shortened as to not provide spoilers]

Review

Survival books are always a good read. I love reading about unique ways to get out of sticky situations. Filled with adventure and adrenalin-pumping scenarios, Hatchet is no exception to this. Because of the various life-threatening events Brian encounters, he becomes a stronger young adult, both physically and emotionally, throughout the novel. Brian learns that in many situations a positive attitude and a thankful heart are essential for a positive outcome. Even though Hatchet was written over 30 years ago, it is still relatable and entertaining today. I would recommend this YA novel to any one, no matter the age, who is interested in survival shows such as Dual Survival.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any Age

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Book Review: Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury

Title: Angels Walking

Series Title: Angels Walking (Book 1)

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Genre: Christian Fiction

Date Published: September 2, 2014

Why I Read This Book: Karen Kingsbury. Enough said :)

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

When former national baseball star Tyler Ames suffers a career-ending injury, all he can think about is putting his life back together the way it was before. He has lost everyone he loves on his way to the big leagues. Then just when things seem to be turning around, Tyler hits rock bottom. Across the country, Tyler’s one true love Sami Dawson has moved on. 

A series of small miracles leads Tyler to a maintenance job at a retirement home and a friendship with Virginia Hutcheson, an old woman with Alzheimer’s who strangely might have the answers he so desperately seeks.

A team of Angels Walking take on the mission to restore hope for Tyler, Sami, and Virginia. Can such small and seemingly insignificant actions of the unseen bring healing and redemption? And can the words of a stranger rekindle lost love? Every journey begins with a step.

It is time for the mission to begin…

Review

Karen Kingsbury has outdone herself with this novel. Maybe it is my love of baseball. Maybe it is my love of christian romance novels. Maybe it is my love of redemptive stories. I am not sure; all I know is this is an amazing Christian fiction novel.

Tyler throws out his shoulder pitching and finds himself out of a job with no insurance or money. He finds the only job he can (with the recommendation of an angel) as a maintenance man at a retirement home. A team of angels seek to do God's work and restore hope for Tyler and the other characters in this charming novel.

Angels Walking reminds me that there is hope in every situation. Maybe we need to get to our lowest point in life before we have a powerful encounter with God. Forgiveness, grace and love are the essence of this novel.

I recommend Angels Walking to everyone.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any Age

Overall Rating: 5/5

Book Review: Courageous by Randy Alcorn (Based on the Screenplay by the Kendrick Brothers)

Title: Courageous

Author: Randy Alcorn, based off the screenplay of Alex Kendrick and Stephan Kendrick

Publish Date: August 1, 2011

Genre: Christian Fiction

Why I Read this Book: I have wanted to read this book since I saw the movie a few years ago. I read the audiobook version of this book that I found at my local library.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

From the creators of "Fireproof" comes an inspiring new story about everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark. They know that God desires to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning to drift farther and farther away from them. Will they be able to find a way to serve and protect those who are most dear to them? When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God . . . and to their children?

Review

Adam Mitchell and his law enforcement partners constantly face the challenge of being Godly fathers. They seek to find a way to protect those that are closest to themselves. Courageous is all about striving to be all that God wants us to be.

I watched the movie Courageous a few years ago and fell in love with the way the screenplay writers mixed comedy with a very serious topic: fatherhood and being what God wants you to be. At the end of the Audiobook version, there is an interview with the author of the book, Randy Alcorn. In the interview he discussed how he struggled to create a full length novel out of only a few hours of screenplay. I believe one of the most amazing aspects of this book is the additional content that Alcorn provides. There are many additional or lengthened scenes that stay true to the original feel of the movie. He adds much more laughter, many more heartfelt moments and keeps the overall message just as hard hitting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs encouragement, laughter, or a good crying session.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any

Overall Rating: 5/5

Book Review: Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

Book Title: Leaving

Author:  Karen Kingsbury

Publish Date: March 22, 2011

 Why I Read this Book: I listened to the audiobook version of this book that I received from my local library.

 

 

 

 

 

Review

This book has not only entertained me, but it has also encouraged me.  It has taught me and encouraged me to rely on God and to trust in His promises.  It has taught me how to deal with change which is an important lesson in my life right now as I prepare to graduate from undergraduate school and go onto graduate school. 

Leaving is a third person narrative following three characters.  I loved all three perspectives. Leaving is relevant to my life right now because it is about a girl that is around my age (young 20s) and finding out what God has for her future.  Bailey is seeking for both financial assurance through a career and the guy that God has prepared for her.  It also follows Cody, Bailey's ex-boyfriend, and all that God has for him in a coaching career.  And finally, it follows a woman whose husband is suffering from a lung disease due to his time as a firefighter at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

I loved all of the characters and their stories.  I loved that it was full of drama, but seemed realistic enough to happen in real life.  I loved that it evoked emotions and left me wanting to cry.  I would recommend this to anyone wanting a great inspirational story about finding God's purpose in your life.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any

Overall Rating: 4/5

Book Review: Avalon High by Meg Cabot

Book Title: Avalon High

Author: Meg Cabot

Publish Date: 2006

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance

Plot (from Goodreads):  

Who is Will Wagner, and how is it that Ellie, the new girl at Avalon High, feels as if she's known him all her life, when she's only just met him?

A log ago legend comes to new life in this tale of a love triangle, a medieval sword, and a totally awesome pool raft.

Avalon High seems like a typical high school, attended by typical students. There's Lance, the Jock. Jennifer, the cheerleader. And Will, senior class president, quarterback, and all-around good guy.

But not everybody at Avalon High is who they appear to be... not even, as new student Ellie is about to discover, herself. What part does she play in the drama that is unfolding? What if the bizarre chain of events and coincidences she has pieced together means — as with the court of King Arthur — tragedy is fast approaching Avalon High.

Worst of all, what if there's nothing she can do about it?

Why I Read this Book: I have really been into reading Audiobooks at the gym lately, so I checked this book out online from my library.

 

Review

A dash of romance, a dash of action, and a large bit of awesomeness is what makes this book worth the read.  This is a fun, light read.  I enjoyed the references to mythology.  I also enjoyed the lightness of the read.  Although I would consider this book more as middle grade rather than young adult, I still found that I easily related to the characters.
 

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Middle Grade

Overall Rating: 4/5