“A Nest for Celeste” by Henry Cole

A Nest for Celeste:
A Story About Art, Inspiration, & the Meaning of Home

by Henry Cole

Synopsis: 

A fanciful history lesson for middle graders, featuring a charming mouse named Celeste.

Celeste is a mouse who is looking for a home. Is it nestled in the toe of a warm boot? In the shirt pocket of Celeste’s new friend Joseph? Or is home the place deep inside Celeste’s heart, where friendships live?

Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of black-and-white drawings, A Nest for Celeste is a short novel that tells the story a mouse living in the 1800s and his friendship with John James Audubon’s young apprentice. While enjoying this sweet amd [sic] appealing story, young readers will also learn about nineteenth-century plantation life and the famous naturalist who was known for his paintings of birds and American wildlife.

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

5+ stars & 7/10 hearts. This book. It is so, so beautiful and sweet. The illustrations are perfect, and the story is so whimsical! <3 (Note that there are some euphemisms and one place where Audubon swears in French). There are some lovely descriptions... of music and the world and the river... Joseph is a darling and I loved his interactions with Celeste. And Lafayette is so much fun. xD This is definitely a must-read for anyone and you will not regret purchasing it! (The hardcover version is beautiful and worth every penny).

A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “[The thrush] hopped gracefully onto the dogwood branch, fluttering a little. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to sing.
“Out came the liquid, gurgling stream of silvery notes so sweet and fluid that Joseph dropped his pencils....
“The song, a mixture of sweetness and melancholy, swirled through the room like a cool breeze.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Well, there I was, mindin’ my own business, [...], had barely gotten any distance at all, and the next thing I know, BOOM! Some crazy maniac down in the yard is jumpin’ around and wavin’ his gun and laughin’! My wing missin’ some feathers, and down I go.’”

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“On the Banks of Plum Creek” by Laura Ingalls Wilder

On the Banks of Plum Creek

(Little House Series, #4)

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Synopsis: 
Immerse yourself in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House series, now featuring Garth Williams’ classic art in vibrant full-color. Based on the real-life adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, On the Banks of Plum Creek is the Newbery Honor-winning fourth book in the Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers.
The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they leave their little house on the prairie and travel in their covered wagon to Minnesota. They settle into a house made of sod on the banks of beautiful Plum Creek. Soon Pa builds them a sturdier house, with real glass windows and a hinged door. Laura and Mary go to school, help with the chores around the house, and fish in the creek. Pa’s fiddle lulls them all to sleep at the end of the day. But then disaster strikes—on top of a terrible blizzard, a grasshopper infestation devours their wheat crop. Now the family must work harder than ever to overcome these challenges.

The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family sticking together through thick and thin.

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

5 stars & 5/10 hearts. I really love this particular book out of the series. These books have been around all my life, and I still love them. They’re amazing grow-up-with books. I love the creek descriptions, and the descriptions of the house, and the feel of the book, even if the debts make me cringe so! Laura’s attitude to Nellie is wrong, but you must admit Nellie was a spoiled brat. ;)

A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “The path stooped in the shade of a great willow tree. A footbridge went on across the water to level, sunny grass. Then the dim path wandered on until it curved around a tiny hill and went out of sight.
“Laura thought that the little path went on forever wandering on sunny grass and rising friendly streams and always going around low hills to see what was on the other side. She knew it really must go to Mr. Nelson’s[,] but it was a little path that did not want to stay anywhere. It wanted always to be going on.” 

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“The Graham Quartet & the Mysterious Strangers” by Rebekah A. Morris

The Graham Quartet & the Mysterious Strangers
(Graham Quartet #1)

by Rebekah A. Morris

Synopsis: 

In the midst of the cold, snowy woods, the Graham Quartet stumble across a mystery. It could mean danger, but that doesn’t stop Elsa, Matt, Tim and Selena as they try their best to help a stranger who needs them. But what can Siam, Hong Kong and Vanderbilt have to do with the local furniture factory? And why are so many strangers suddenly appearing and then disappearing in town? With the arrival of an elusive figure, things start moving, while a simple delivery trip may bring more than the Quartet bargained for. Will the four siblings be able to help their friend and their country?

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎
5 stars & 5/10 hearts. Talk about a thriller. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Over and over I was afraid for the Quartet but each time the story just kept right on. I loved all the FBI and detective stuff! I also really liked how well the Quartet worked together (I liked them all, but Tim is my favourite ;) ) and how their parents were involved. I also really appreciated how they often stopped to pray about the whole thing. The final scene was a-maz-ing and I loved it so much!! The audiobook version is amazing too. I really appreciated that the villans didn't haunt me. I'm a easily impressionable person :P and often after I read of villans they freak me out in the dark. For this book, however, the bad guys were very little touched upon. I read this book at night but I had no difficulty going to sleep or anything. Definitely recommend this for easily frightened people who love the excitement and fascination of detective/mystery stories.

A Favourite Quote: “‘You know, I think it’s time we prayed.’ [...]
“‘You’re right, Elsa. We’re completely stuck as far as what to do, but there is a right thing to do. Let’s all pray right now about what we should do[.’]”

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“The Case of the Missing Hero” by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick

The Case of the Missing Hero

 (The Kitten Files Book 2) 

by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick

Synopsis: 

"I'm Mia.
I know how to write.
Why's that a big deal?
Because... I'm a cat."
A goofy, shaggy farm dog is missing. Did he run away? Was he dog-napped? Normally the fate of a dog wouldn't concern Mia too much, but this one belongs to Keith's nephew.
As detective and cat dig deeper, they discover there are more dogs missing from the area. Will Mia be able to sniff out the location of the missing dogs—and solve her second case?
A cute, clean mystery for all ages.

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐ &  ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

4 stars. I think this is Perry’s best work so far.* It was so funny. Mia’s sarcasm, and her cattish point of view and comments on humans (especially children) were so well done and so funny! I can’t wait to see where her phone will take her. :P

A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Mr. Adams draped an arm around his wife’s shoulder and leaned over the counter to inspect the warm cookies.
“‘Let's see,’ he teased, ‘twelve cookies. That's one for each of you and six for me, right?’
“‘No, Dad, they're all for you,’ Natalie said. ‘But you can share them if you want to.’”

*this was written in 2018! 

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“Ruby Moon” by Jenny Knipfer

Ruby Moon 

(By the Light of the Moon, Book 1)

by Jenny Knipfer

Synopsis:

Ruby Moon embodies a tale of grief, guilt, and romance set on the shores of Lake Superior in Ontario during the mid 1890’s. Jenay, a young woman of mixed French and Ojibwe descent, must survive the trauma of causing a horrific accident. Her maturity accelerates as the challenges of grief, and romance enter the scene.

Amidst this drama, Jenay is caught in a web spun by Renault, a rich, charming man who once threatened ruination of her father’s shipping company but now seeks something even more valuable–Jenay. Renault, her past enemy, suddenly becomes her friend then something more...

Jenay must find where her strength lies in order to face the challenges life brings her or be washed away like driftwood on the tumultuous shores of Lake Superior. Life’s richest dramas are played out under the banner of two ruby-colored moons and become the hidden gems which forge her into a mature strong woman. Jenay realizes God is by her side, using even the harsh events of life to create something precious in her.

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. I have mixed feelings about this book. I think I’ll list the negative stuff and then the positive, and then draw a conclusion. The narrator’s language was too modern, which brothered me. I disliked the content of this book. There was some content I disliked--really, I felt like the story was really aimed at married couples, all about having secrets & getting attracted to another man. The religion was half-Catholic and I wasn’t sure if the characters were saved, and there was some Native American spiritualism mixed in. On the other hand, the French & Indian language was perfectly woven into the dialogue (I found one mistake but the author will be changing it). I loved Jacque. And there were some good little lessons run through the book. Basically, I don’t think I’ll read this again, but I don’t regret reading it. It was good, but not my cup of tea. For the sake of the lessons, which I really liked, I will round my rating up to 3 stars. Recommended age: 18+

Highlight to read content: Some mentions of wanting a woman, thinking about her body, her sharing her body, etc; mentions of a period; a slightly detailed birthing scene; La Rue & a woman make love in a hotel room... and the whole problem of La Rue wanting Jenay & assaulting her.


A Favourite Quote: “Strangely, I am not anxious about it. I have this strange sense of peace that I am sure can only be coming from God. How thankful I am for this assurance that no matter what happens, I will be well, our little family will be well. Nothing comes to us that does first not go through the hands of a loving and wise God. I am trusting in that fact alone.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: ““How good it is to hear the roll of the waves of Gitchi-gami. It was the music of wind on water. The repeating sound was soothing to her soul.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Botheration!’ exclaimed John Pierre Follett out loud to himself. ‘The man obviously does not comprehend the meaning of the word, NO!’”

* I received an ebook copy of this book from the author in return for my honest review.*

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“Chronicles of Avonlea” by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Chronicles of Avonlea

(Anne of Green Gables Series, #9) 

by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Synopsis: 

On Prince Edward Island, where Anne Shirley grew up in the sea-sprayed town of Avonlea, there was no shortage of wonderful stories. There was the case of Ludovic Speed, who wouldn't propose to the woman he had courted for fifteen years until Anne devised a plan to "speed" him up...if it didn't backfire and break his heart. But no one could blame mischievous Anne for the hilarious battle of the sexes that erupted when a man-hunting woman and her cat got quarantined in the same house with a woman-hating bachelor and his dog. Form sprawling Penhallow Grange, where a family waits nearly forever for two quarreling lovers to break their stubborn silence, to the tumbledown farm of Old Man Shaw, who awaits the return of his beloved daughter, L.M. Montgomery has written twelve tales of secret hopes and hidden dreams, filled with enchantment and humor.

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

5 stars & 5/10 hearts. This is a great companion to “Anne of Green Gables,” “Anne of Avonlea,” & “Anne of the Island.” The stories span these years and cover the villages around Avonlea, as well as Avonlea itself. There’s a couple of stories where Anne makes an appearance, but mostly she’s either mentioned or not at all. It’s very interesting to see her from different people’s point of view! There’s a swear word (printed with blanks instead of words), and a few things I don’t agree with; but it’s very good. These stories are mostly hilarious, although a few are just sweet. They’re full of Montgomery’s amazing characters—true to life, full of comedy and sorrow and love. It isn’t as good as the Anne books, but it’s a great read.

A Favourite Quote: “‘See to it that you never make your music the servant of the power of evil—never debase it to unworthy ends. For your responsibility is as your gift, and God will exact the accounting of it from you.’”

A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “[T]he harbour was veiling itself in a wondrous twilight splendour. Afar out, the sea lay throbbing and purple, and the moan of the bar came through the sweet, chill spring air with its burden of hopeless, endless longing and seeking. The sky was blossoming into stars above the afterglow; out to the east the moon was rising, and the sea beneath it was a thing of radiance and silver and glamour; and a little harbour boat that went sailing across it was transmuted into an elfin shallop from the coast of fairyland.”

A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘We are going to keep this baby in spite of any number of uncles in Manitoba. Have I made this sufficiently clear to your understanding, Mr. Spencer?’

“‘Certainly, certainly,’ stammered the unfortunate man[,] ‘but I thought you didn’t want him—I thought you’d written to his uncle—I thought—‘

“‘I really wouldn’t think quite so much if I were you,’ said Ma kindly. ‘It must be hard on you. Won’t you stay and have tea with us?’

“But, no, Josiah would not stay. He was thankful to make his escape with such rags of self-respect as remained to him.”

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