Category: children’s

Posted in children's, Literature

“The Battle for the Castle” by Elizabeth Winthrop

Posted on by The Fireside Chats

Well, I’ve finished reading this novel on my Kindle Fire. I enjoyed this book as well, however, I think I enjoyed the first book more if I had to choose. I’m not saying this book was bad, far from it. I just think I enjoyed the adventure in the first book a little more than I did in this one. Still a good book to read with your kids, especially if you like medieval fiction

Synopsis: In this sequel to The Castle in the Attic, twelve-year-old William uses a magic token to return, through the toy castle in his attic, to the medieval land of Sir Simon, which is now menaced by a skeleton ship bearing a plague of evil.

Posted in children's, Literature

“The Castle in the Attic” by Elizabeth Winthrop

Posted on by The Fireside Chats

Well, I finished reading my first e-book for the year just now. This is an excellent book for children, I would probably say from about 7 till about 12. It depends on the reading ability of the child. If you are a fan of the “Indian of the Cupbard” book or you like medieval fiction, this would be something you should read with your children.

Synopsis: Ten-year-old William receives a wooden model of a medieval castle as a gift. It has everything he could possibly want, right down to a miniature drawbridge, a portcullis and a silver knight. In this enthralling story that weaves the everyday problems of growing up with magic and fantasy, the castle introduces William to an adventure involving magic, a ferocious dragon, a wicked wizard, and his own personal quest, where courage will finally triumph over fear.

Posted in children's, horror, Literature

“Ghost and Bone” by Andrew Prentice

Posted on by The Fireside Chats

This was an interesting book. I have read ghost stories before but I’d never read about a living boy who can turn into a ghost whenever he wants to. There are a few twists and surprises by the time you get to the end of the book but I liked the way the book ended though. This is a perfect book for kids who enjoy a good scary story and aren’t easily scared (age range is probably around 8 – 12).

Synopsis: Oscar Grimstone is a normal kid—aside from his secret Curse. Whenever he touches something living, like a flower or his classroom goldfish, they always seem to die. But then Oscar discovers an even bigger secret: even though he is very much alive, he has the ability to transform into a ghost.

Just when he thinks things can’t get any stranger two ghosts show up at his home in a skeleton carriage and he winds up joining them on a journey beyond the real world to a place he never knew existed—the city of ghosts. There Oscar will discover a place where people go once they die, before they aboard a ship to the The Other Side. But will he find out who he really is?

Posted in children's, historical fiction, Literature

“Chains” by Laurie Halse Anderson

Posted on by The Fireside Chats

I’ve finished this book over the weekend and I wanted to share it with you. This book is more from the historical fiction genre and I don’t normally read stuff from that genre but I was glad I read it. It was something a little outside what I normally read but I found the story kept me entertained. This book was hard to put down because I just had to find out what Isabel was up to next. Luckily, this book is part of a trilogy so I’ve got 2 more books to learn more about Isabel and what happens to her.

If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl?

As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight…for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom.

From acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson comes this compelling, impeccably researched novel that shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual.

Posted in children's, horror, Literature

“Ghostlight” by Sonia Gensler

Posted on by The Fireside Chats

I finished reading another book and I wanted to share it with you. In this book, we follow Avery May as she explores an old house on her grandmother’s property that is reportedly haunted, even though her grandmother has forbidden her from ever stepping foot in that house. Weird things happen each time she visits and the story takes off from there (I don’t want to reveal too much and ruin the story for people who haven’t read this yet). Even though I know this is a book that is more for kids, this story is still pretty good and the characters are relatable. If you like to read to your kids or have your child read out loud to you, this will probably be a good book to do that with (if your kids like to read about haunted houses, that is).

Synopsis: Avery is looking forward to another summer at Grandma’s farm, at least until her brother says he’s too old for “Kingdom,” the imaginary world they’d spent years creating. Lucky for her, there’s a new kid staying in the cottage down the road: a city boy with a famous dad, Julian’s more than a little full of himself, but he’s also a storyteller like Avery. So when he announces his plan to film a ghost story, Avery is eager to join in.
 
Unfortunately, Julian wants to film at Hilliard House, a looming, empty mansion that Grandma has absolutely forbidden her to enter. As terrified as Avery is of Grandma’s wrath, the allure of filmmaking is impossible to resist.
 
As the kids explore the secrets of Hilliard house, eerie things begin to happen, and the “imaginary” dangers in their movie threaten to become very real. Have Avery and Julian awakened a menacing presence? Can they turn back before they go too far?

Posted in children's, Literature

“The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle” by Janet Fox

Posted on by The Fireside Chats

I just finished reading this novel last night before going to bed and I wanted to share it with you. I had found this book in the bargain section of my local bookstore and thought it looked interesting. Well, I wasn’t disappointed when I finished this book last night. This book kept me on my toes the whole time I was reading it. Fans of Harry Potter and/or The Chronicles of Narnia may like this book (this novel is a little bit more scary than those series though).

Synopsis: Something is not right at Rookskill Castle, a rundown Scottish manor shrouded in mystery. The castle is a temporary boarding school for children escaping the Blitz, but soon it’s clear there is something terribly wrong. There are clues hinting that a spy is in the house, and there are undeniable signs of a sinister magic. When the children in the castle’s temporary boarding school begin disappearing one by one, it’s a race against the clock for twelve-year-old Kat Bateson, her two younger siblings, and their new best friend.