SANDCASTLES OF LOVE
by Sydell Voeller
ISBN 1-58608-059-8
Rocket 1-58608-177-2
Published by: New Concepts Publishing
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Price: $3.99 diskette, $3.50 download
Stars out of 5: 4 1/2
Immediately I knew this was an author to keep my eye on. SANDCASTLES
OF LOVE is a great book. Ms. Voeller's talent is superb, and I was
impressed with her ability to write as if she were the actual teenager in
the book.
Her gift to describe the beach and the Oregon coast allows the reader to
visualize with ease. SANDCASTLES OF LOVE is a light-hearted young adult
romance book that's attention grabbing, well-written, and charming.
Logan Becker is a young lady from Minnesota who is excited about the
"house-swapping" arrangement that her family has made with another family
in Oregon. Logan will be spending the summer at the beach, while the
daughter of the "other" family, Trisha Merrit, is just as thrilled to be
spending her summer on a farm in Minnesota.
When Logan meets the boy of her dreams, a handsome young man named Jeff
Hollingsworth, her excitement grows. She tries everything she can to
get his attention. Grant Duncan is also interested in her, but Logan
wants to pursue Jeff, because he's everything she's looking for--he's popular,
he surfs. She doesn't care that Jeff is Trisha's boyfriend. She
doesn't realize at first that they have slowly become great friends.
When Trisha returns early, Logan is heart broken. Trisha is ready to
continue her relationship with Jeff. Does Jeff love Trisha? Did
he fall for Logan? What about Grant? Find out by getting your
hands on Ms. Voeller's book today. I guarantee you won't be
disappointed.
Formally a registered nurse and violinist in semi-professional orchestras,
Forest Grove, Oregon author Sydell Voeller now writes full time. She is a
multi-published author with ten published works under her belt. THE FISHERMAN'S
DAUGHTER was her first e-published book. Ms. Voeller's writing reflects
her passion for the mountains, forests, waterways, and beaches. Therefore,
most of her stories are set in the Pacific Northwest.
Visit Ms. Voeller's website at http://sydellvoeller.romance-central.com
I highly recommend SANDCASTLES OF LOVE by Sydell Voeller.
--Reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese,
www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/writers.html
GWN Book Reviewer
8/10/2001
SKATEBOARD
BLUES
by Sydell Voeller
ISBN 1-58200-587-7
Published by: Hard Shell Word Factory, www.hardshell.com
Release Date: August 2000
Genre: Young Adult
Price: $5.00, diskette
Stars out of 5: 4 1/2
Jessica Williams is your typical young girl. She is a freshman at Preston
High School and she lives the small of Preston, Oregon, and she can't wait
to get out!
When Cam Easton, a handsome skateboarding hunk, moves across the street,
Jessica's everyday boring routine improves. She wants to get to know
him better. After a few failed attempts at trying to get his attention,
she comes up with the perfect plan. With her father running for Mayor,
Jessica and her sister hand out flyers with high hopes of meeting Cam face
to face.
There is one problem with Jessica falling for a skateboarder. Her father
and mother, as well as many of the town's residents, are dead set against
skateboarding. After an elderly woman was knocked over and injured
by a careless skateboarder, as she shopped one afternoon. Now they
feel that all skateboarders are careless.
However, Jessica falls for Cam instantly. Some of the football players
suggest that Cam is only dating her because she is the daughter of the man
that could ban skateboarding from the town of Preston.
Will Jessica's pursuit of Cam the skateboarder damage her father's campaign
for Mayor? What are Cam's true intentions?
Ms. Voeller's book brought back many of my teenage memories and my own past
crushes. I enjoyed it immensely.
SKATEBOARD BLUES is a spirited young adult romance book that is sure to grasp
any young teenage girl's attention. Ms. Voeller has captured the art
of suspension, realistic dialog, as well as well-established characters.
Her entertaining story teaches the reader the responsibilities that teenager's
have regarding family, friends, the law, and themselves.
Formly a registered nurse and violinist in semi-professional orchestras,
Forest Grove, Oregon author Sydell Voeller now writes full time. She
is a multi-published author with ten published works under her belt.
THE FISHERMAN'S DAUGHTER was her first e-published book. Ms. Voeller's
writing reflects her passion for the mountains, forests, waterways, and beaches.
Therefore, most of her stories are set in the Pacific Northwest.
Visit Ms. Voeller's website at http://sydellvoeller.romance-central.com
I highly recommend this book for your young adult.
--Reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese,
www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/writers.html
GWN Book Reviewer
8/10/2001
BRAIN MAN
by Betty Jo Schuler
Published by Wordbeams
Release Date: 2001
Genre: Children's Middle Grade
ISBN: 1-58785-090-7
Price: $6.95 Diskette, $4.15 Download
Stars out of 5: 4 1/2
Immediately Betty Jo Schuler sets the scene, and establishes the main
character--all within the first few paragraphs.
In this well-written story, Ms. Schuler teaches the reader about the right
and wrongs of young adulthood, and the responsibilities that go along with
it. Through the eyes of her life-like main character, Randy O'Rourke
and his best friend, Brain.
Randy likes to build robots. Brain is his newest creation, and Randy
hopes that Brain can be just as good, if not better than the robots at Future
World, an amusement park where robots do all the work. Brain finishes
Randy's schoolwork, he does Randy's chores; all that he was programmed to
do, plus more. Brain begins to show some serious glitches in his
programming as time goes on. His hilarious escapades will keep you
smiling as you read chapter after chapter. Brain is out of control!
Betty Jo Schuler's wit and talent shines in BRAIN MAN published by
Wordbeams. I enjoyed her story for young adults thoroughly, and my
ten-year-old son, Nicholas, could hardly put the book away.
Betty Jo Schuler is a mother of four, who loves to write stories for
children. She quit teaching elementary school children to write
full-time.
Her children are grown, and she lives with her husband, Paul, in their Indiana
home.
Get her creative books at Wordbeams and DiskUs. She actively encourages
readers to visit her website:
http://home.webworks2000.net/bschuler/bettyjo.html
This reviewer highly recommends BRAIN MAN by Betty Jo Schuler.
Reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese,
http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/writers.html
GWN Book Reviewer
8/10/2001
Castaways of the Flying
Dutchman
Author: Brian Jacques
Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication Date: 2001
Price: $22.95
Pages: 327
ISBN: 0-399-23601-5
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
How does the author of a series of best selling novels successfully venture
into new territory? For Brian Jacques, he writes Castaways of the Flying
Dutchman. Though it may be difficult for Redwall fans to begin reading
a book by Jacques with no mention of Martin the Warrior, they will soon find
themselves wrapped up in a different adventure, equally enticing and
exciting. Once trapped, the novel reads quickly and is difficult to
put down.
The basis for the story comes from the legend of The Flying Dutchman, a ghost
ship that sails the seas bringing doom wherever it is sighted. The
first part of the novel deals directly with the legend. Jacques crafts
a suspenseful tale of mad sea captain, a mutinous crew, and a mute, eleven
year old boy (Neb) who befriends a stray Labrador (Den). In a series
of unsuccessful attempts to sail around the treacherous Cape Horn, the captain
curses God, who in turn condemns all aboard to sail the seas for eternity.
In a twist of fate, the two innocents are thrown clear of the ship, but not
before they are both given immortality, never to age. They are commanded
by an angel to help those in need. Here is where the real journey
begins. The remainder of the novel focuses on the two (now Ben and
Ned) in the year 1896, trying to save a small town from destruction from
a large mining company. They, and the friends they make, must solve
a mystery of missing land deeds, while confronting villains of many forms.
Of course, the venture includes a good mix of both danger and humor, and
in the end, how could it not be successful?
Sound a little like Highway to Heaven or Touched by an Angel? Sure.
But then, most of Brian Jacques’ novels have clear religious
overtones. Why shouldn’t this one? And Jacques doesn’t
completely distance himself from his Redwall animals – Ned, the Lab,
has the ability to transmit his thoughts to Ben and other animals.
Still, the characters are engaging and endearing, the plot fast-paced.
The only difficulty is reading Jacques’ frequent use of dialect.
It takes some getting used to, but is not insurmountable.
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman has all the elements needed to be a hit
among preteens and young adults, and in spite of a misleading book cover,
Jacques’ name will encourage enough to read it that word of mouth will
take over. And, if you didn’t see it coming, Brian Jacques has
set himself up for a whole new series of best selling novels.
David Richardson, GWN Online Children/Young Adult Book Reviewer
Richardson_d@fuse.net
July 29, 2001
The Family Butterfly
Book
by Rick Mikula
Publication Date: May 2001
ISBN:1-58017-335-7, Hardcover, 1-58017-292-X trade paperback
Before I started reading Rick Mikula’s "The Family Butterfly Book" I
fully anticipated a thorough education in butterfly species, history, and
habitats, but never expected an experience in humility, empathy, and concern
for the endangered butterfly. Rick’s knowledge of butterflies
is outstanding. Rick’s love for the exquisite winged insect is
awe-inspiring.
Information saturates every page in this wonderfully illustrated book from
how to handle a butterfly, create butterfly habitats, and raise butterfly
eggs, to the history of butterflies, year round butterfly activities, and
photography tips and tricks. Readers will delight in the many instructive
fillers and vibrant photographs. Did you know butterflies aren’t
able to fly if the temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or that
butterflies see in ultraviolet range and enjoy colors and patterns that humans
can’t? In addition, a gallery of butterflies shares information
to aid readers in identifying 40 different species. It includes a map of
breeding range, host and nectar plants, magnified drawings of butterfly eggs,
length and description of caterpillars, and distinctive features of chrysalises.
This is a book that will no doubt urge families away from the television
and electronic games and out into the yard for exploration. Parents
and children will know how to carefully tape a butterfly’s wing so it
can fly and live a normal lifespan, as well as administer CPR to a weak or
injured butterfly. How about starting a butterfly farm?
If the didactics don’t sell you on butterflies, believe me the
author’s emotive declarations will. Butterfly habitats are being
destroyed. Hybrids and ornamentals are replacing the earth’s natural
wildflowers. Insecticides kill. In the Foreward, Orley R. Taylor,
Ph.D., Director, Monarch Press, states that Rick Mikula has given the world
a gift, and guarantees that once the reader familiarizes himself with the
world of butterflies, commonly overlooked plants and small creatures will
soon become objects of great interest. I am apt to agree.
Whether you live in the country or city, this is one book you’ll definitely
want in your family library. However, with the beautiful cover and
inside illustrations, you might discover it’s been moved to the coffee
table.
Richelle Putnam
Author of
Fallout,
a Middle-Grade Fiction
Contributor to Suite 101's
Real People, Real Stories
Regional Representative for NAWW
Children and Young Adult Editor for
Gotta Write Network
Storey’s Horse Lover’s
Encyclopedia:
An English & Western A-to-Z Guide
Edited by Deborah Burns
February 2001
ISBN: 1-58017-317-9 paperback/1-58017-336-5 hardcover
I don’t think there’s a child alive who hasn’t yearned to
have a horse of his own, to hear a welcoming neigh greet him on a crisp fall
day, and to stroke his steed’s arched neck. A horse is more than
a ride on a clear afternoon, cantering through open fields, hurdling streams,
and galloping along woodland trails. He is not just a friend.
He is a companion.
When I first received Storey’s Horse-Lover Encyclopedia edited by Deborah
Burns, I must admit I was intimidated by its enormous size and thickness.
But when I opened the book and discovered the alphabetized guide, beautiful
illustrations and informational fillers, I was, to say the least,
impressed.
From AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) to Zebra, this book
is more an equestrian’s bible than encyclopedia. The reader can
easily skim the A-Z terms to learn that different breeds emphasize different
types of action, and that a dam isn’t a barrier to obstruct the flow
of water, but the female parent of a horse. Well-drawn illustrations
instruct the reader how to use a twitch instead of pain or fear to subdue
a horse. There is information on the variations of basic seats,
why horses rub against things, and how to tie a horse. Need information
on disease and disease prevention? Or feeding? Showing?
Foaling? Breeding? How about various organizations affiliated
with horses? Answers are easily found within the 471 pages.
The book is indexed well and also supplies resource organizations.
As an additional treat, the editor provides thought provoking proverbs and
history regarding horses. Did you know that horseball was invented
in the 1970’s by French riding instructor Jean-Paul Depons, and that
ancient working ponies of Europe can still be found in some rural areas?
Yet, as vast as the equestrian’s world may be, you will discover that
horses are virtually the same all over the world.
The Horse-Lover’s Encyclopedia will educate and enlighten both amateur
and expert. It’s easy to understand why this book was chosen as
a main selection of the Equestrian Edge Book Club.
W. C. Fields said, “Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps
it from betting on people.” I’m betting The Horse-Lover’s
Encyclopedia will groom any horse lover into a horse prodigy.
Richelle Putnam, GWN Online
7/19/2001
Author of
Fallout,
a Middle-Grade Fiction
Contributor to Suite 101's
Real People, Real Stories
Regional Representative for NAWW
Children and Young Adult Editor for
Gotta Write Network
.
Page Updated 11/26/01
