The 13th Reality

Everything is boring to my 11 year old daughter. "Why don't you read a book?" I say to her. "Reading is boring." So when I picked up The 13th Reality, I was hoping she'd like it. Well, I found myself reading it with her, just as anxious to find out what happened next in the book. The characters are vibrant and endearing. Names like Atticus Higgenbottom, Norbert, Mistress Jane, Mr. Chu, still stand out in my mind. Strange letters, complex riddles, and the new reality were all captivating.

Author James Dashner has a fabulous imagination and a very enjoyable writing style. It's only a matter of time before it hits the bestseller lists. My 13 year old son recently snatched it. Looks like we'll need more than one copy because my 8 year old is dying to read it too. It's a hit at my house. For adults and children alike, The 13th Reality is worth every minute.

From Kirkus Reviews:
THE JOURNAL OF CURIOUS LETTERS A boy . . . a mysterious letter . . . twelve clues . . . a girl . . . a dad . . . two very strange strangers. These are just the basic ingredients in this adventure served up by Dashner in what is the start of a series that will capture the imagination of young and old alike. Atticus Higginbottom (Tick to all who know him) is smart, well-adjusted and something of a loner at school, preferring his family, the library and the Internet to his classmates. So he s surprised to receive a letter postmarked in Macadamia, Alaska, from someone he s never even heard of. But he s intrigued and makes a commitment to join with his correspondent to save many lives. Though there are chunks of text that are overwritten, the telling is generally laced with a strong sense of humor and a sure hand at plot; the author is plainly in tune with today s fan base. Let the adventure begin! (Science fiction. 10-12)

Farworld 2008 Blog Tour

Hey fellow bloggers J. Scott Savage (AKA Jeffrey Savage) is having a blog tour for his upcoming young adult fantasy series Farworld. If you would like to receive a ARC (advance reader copy) and are willing to blog about it go to J. Scotts site at Farworld 2008 Blog Tour for more information.

The Progress Paradox by Gregg Easterbrook

Written by ESPN's Tuesday Morning Quarterback, this book talks about how even though America is at the zenith of its prosperity but American happiness has plateaued and, in some instances, even declined. Why is this? The answers, as any LDS reader might guess, go well beyond the old adage "money can't buy happiness." If you are looking for a light non-fiction read packed with good news and innovative ideas for enriching your life, this is a great place to start!

Help locating a book

This description was sent to me and I was wondering if anyone out there has heard of this series:

"O.K. I need a little help. I started reading a series of books but I can't remember the name or the author. I think the next one is coming out soon but I have no idea what it even is. Somebody mentioned it last fall It wasn't one we actually read. One of the books talked about How things were getting so bad that the church had people get girls camp places ready for families to live in and they brought everybodies storage together, toward the end they had sent everybody that would go to these camps to live away from the world. The government was putting chips in people's hand to do all the everyday things like bank and buy groceries. That's most of what I remember. If you have any idea what any of these books were called or the author I would be so happy. "

Season of Sacrifice

Recently I finished reading Season of Sacrifice by Tristi Pinkston (critically acclaimed author of Nothing to Regret and Strength to Endure). I first based on the lives of the author’s great-great grandparents. At first I was a little nervous. Everyone has a great story somewhere in their family, but an entire novel’s worth? Diving in, I immediately liked how Pinkston put the location and date at the beginning of the chapters. I felt grounded from the beginning as the story opens in 1867 Wales.

Ben Perkins is a young coal miner who is saving his money to immigrate to America. But weeks before he’s set to leave, he courts Mary Ann, who he promptly falls in love with. He has to leave her behind but writes her frequently—through another person since he can’t read or write.

Almost three years later, Ben has saved enough to bring the rest of his family to America, including Mary Ann. What unfolds is a tender love story set against the background of the rugged terrain of Utah.

Next we meet Sarah, the younger sister of Mary Ann. Through several unfortunate hardships, her family makes the choice to leave Wales and travel to Utah—hoping for a fresh start and reunion with Mary Ann. In Utah, Sarah struggles to accept the unfamiliar surroundings and live in the Mormon culture (of which she has yet to convert). But her trials multiply when she agrees to travel to San Juan with Mary Ann and Ben and help establish a new Mormon settlement. When Sarah is faced with the prospect of becoming a second wife in a plural marriage, her faith is shaken to the core.

The story was exciting and kept me reading without hardly putting it down. When finished, I read the chapter notes and was very surprised at how little the author embellished the general events. Here was a true family saga that could be made into a novel, keeping a picky reader hooked until the very end.

This book is for sale several places on-line, but you can get an autographed copy through the author’s website: www.tristipinkston.com