Archive | May 2020

Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden

May15

An Absolute Classic

Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden is a children’s historical classic and just perfect for ages eight and above.

As a child I read Carrie’s War and watched the BBC series of it. I loved it then and I love it now. I had a desire to become reacquainted with the characters so purchased a copy.

The story is set in the Welsh hills as eleven year old Carrie and her younger brother are evacuated from London. The novel is written in the third person from the point of view of Carrie. The reader hears about her fears and insecurities, her desire to please and her love for others.

As the story opens, Carrie is an adult but still carrying  guilt from thirty years ago. The reader is intrigued as the guilt weighs so heavy, it is dragging her down.

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A Boy And His Baskets by Eric S Rodko

May15

Familiar Miracle Accessible For All

A Boy And His Baskets by Eric S Rodko is a beautiful retelling of the miracle of the loaves and the fish.

The author has used his imagination to expand this familiar Biblical story. It is just perfect for children aged five and above. Early readers will want to read it themselves. Younger children will delight as you read it to them.

The story is simply but beautifully illustrated. The pictures can be used as starting points for discussion with your children.

Within the tale there are portions of scripture from Isaiah and also the beatitudes.

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Young Vines by James Russell Lingerfelt

May13

The Wounded Healer

Young Vines by James Russell Lingerfelt is the most serenely beautiful contemporary novel about life, love, loss and good friends.

Home is not necessarily a physical place. It is also an emotional connection and when that is severed, it hurts so badly. The novel explores this theme of loss where memories keep us warm but there is still a huge hole in our hearts. We need to learn how to live again and how to adapt to a new type of normal.

Sometimes in order to live again, we need to revisit our past. We may find old memories will draw us back to a former way of life.

There is a contrast in the novel between the busy academic Pepperdine and the freedom, life and warmth of a Tennessee vineyard. In one life is hectic but empty. In the other it is busy but fulfilling. There is a time for family and love and laughter.

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Hope Is A Dangerous Place by Jim Baton

May13

The Same Yesterday, Today And Forever

Hope Is A Dangerous Place by Jim Baton is a thrilling Christian suspense. It is the first book in the Hope Trilogy series which promises to be exciting.

The heart of God is the focus of the novel. The reader sees how God grieves when His church loses their original purpose. We learn that we do not need a building to be a pastor. We can share God anytime, anywhere and with anyone. We are not called to go to church, we are called to be the church.

It is said that the most segregated hour in America is on a Sunday morning as there are black churches and white churches. The former are seen in the novel to be full of life. The latter are in complete contrast. In contrast also are the neighbourhoods. The black neighbourhood is in poverty whereas the white neighbourhood is wealthy. The novel reminds us that we are not to store up earthly treasures that will decay but to store up heavenly treasures that will last for an eternity.

There is a decades old crime to solve. It seems that someone wants the truth to stay hidden, but who?

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