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Rating 1-5, with 5 being best

 

Title:  Gods and Kings

Author:  Lynn Austin

Summary:  This is the first book in one of the best biblical fiction series out there.  It is the story of King Hezekiah, starting in his childhood and culminating in his kingship.  This is a book that can inspire, since you realize one person can make a difference when they follow God’s commands.  The storyline covers the idolatry and human sacrifices rampant in that day, the Assyrian army’s devastating rampage, and the dramatic turnaround of the nation of Judah when led by a godly King.

Rating:  5

Reviewed by:  Mrs. Ria Faber

 

Title: Stallions at Burnt Rock                                                                             

Author: Paul Bagdon

Summary: This book is about two ranches that compete for the best horses. They try to get people to buy their horses, so they have a race to prove whose are better. The intensity is rising and many dangerous people come to see it. Then there is a murder of one of the owners of the race horse. The horse is then sold unlawfully to the murderer. The race comes and there is a huge crowd. During the race, there is a storm and the course is dangerous. The rider for the murderer tries to kill his opponent and her horse during the race but he fails and loses the race. My favorite character is Lee Morgan, owner of the winning horse, Slick. She knows what she is in for and reacts accordingly. The best part of the book is the race because the whole book leads up to it and the winner of the race is not given away. (So, in other words, I couldn’t put the book down!) Lee hires a trainer for Slick and after the murder; she thinks he was a part of it, so she fires him. This is a lesson that I learned: even when things are going for your advantage but you know that there is something that is wrong happening to help you, then you should get rid of it and keep going.

Rating: 5

Reviewed by: L. Griffioen

 

Title: Eldest   

Author: Christopher Paulini

Summary:  This book is about a kid named Eragon who has a dragon. He lives in the land of Algaesia which is inhabited by humans, dwarfs, elfs, urgals, and dragons. He and his dragon, along with the elfs and the dwarfs, are in a continental war against a human named Galbatorix and his dragon, along with the urgals, shades and most humans. The biggest factor in this war is magic. My favorite part is when Eragon and his army fight an army of Galbatorix 100,000 strong and another dragon is discovered

Rating: 5

Reviewed by: C. Jessup

 

 

Title:  One flew over the Cuckoos nest

Author:  Ken Casey

Summary:  My favorite character in One flew over the cuckoo’s Nest is R.P.McMurphy. McMurphy is a con man who gets himself transferred from a work farm to a psychiatric hospital. Once there, he leads the patients in a ‘revolt’ against the strict policies.

Rating: 4

Reviewed by:  B. DeVries

 

Title: Man of Geneva: the Story

Author: EM Johnson

Summary: This book was both informative and moving. The reformed believer is jarred by the cruel persecution during Calvin’s day against the Protestants in France. The reader is awed by the strong faith shown by the early Protestants and the bravery they had by God’s grace to stand up to Catholicism. John Calvin was a great leader given by God at the right time in the history of the church.

Rating:  5

Reviewed by:  Mr. R. DeVries

 

Title: Holes

Author: Louis Sachar

Summary:  Stanley got framed for stealing shoes. He goes to a ‘prison camp’ where he has to dig five feet holes. What they don’t know is that they are really digging for treasures that the prison ward wants. He ends up finding something and he runs away with it to the mountains. The wardens are abusive and they ended up taking them to jail and all of the juvenile kids are let go.

Rating:  4

Reviewed by:  Z. Start 

Title: Blink    

Author: Ted Dekker

Summary:  The best part was the fact that Seth could see into the futures and escape pursuit. Also, it was cool to read about Islam and some of its practices as well as see the main characters turn to faith in God during a hard time.

Rating:  4

Reviewed by: C. Spriensma

 

Title: The Face on the Milk Carton

Author:  Caroline B. Cooney

Summary: The best part was when Reeve and Janie skip school and head to New Jersey to see if there are any Springs who live there. When they get the address of Jonathan Avery Spring and go to his house, Janie sees children get off the bus that are similar to the ages of those she has seen or heard in her “daymares”. Then they decide to head home so they aren’t late, which they are, then they get chewed out by their parents

Rating: 3

Reviewed by:  K. Kuiper

 

Title: Lasting Victory

Author: Dale Cooper/Kevin VandeStreek

Summary: There are fifty ‘meditations’ for athletes or coaches. It talks a lot about how to be successful and setting goals. Most importantly, it shows how we as athletes are playing for our Lord. We reflect Him in all our works but especially against opponents on the court and field. Teamwork and other things are essential for the TEAM to strive. We are servants of the Lord.

Rating: 5

Reviewed by:  J. Dykstra

 

Title: Snow Treasure

Author: Marie McSwigan

Summary: Snow Treasure is about a group of kids that save Norway’s gold from the Nazis by riding it in sleds down to a ship to be taken to America. My favorite character was Peter. He showed great leadership and bravery to help save Norway’s gold. It was very interesting to see Norway’s plan to save its gold in WWII from the view of the neutral nations. This book showed me a whole new perspective of World War II. I would definitely recommend this book for any reader wanting a casual, good read.

Rating:  4

Reviewed by: K. Gritters 

 

Title: Brian’s Hunt

Author:  Gary Paulsen

Summary:  The best part of the book is when Brian starts to hunt the bear. He tracks it overnight , but then he realizes he is now being hunted by this huge bear. That made me laugh. Then he is attacked but he ends up killing the bear.

Rating: 3

Reviewed by: B. Ophoff

 

Title: One Tuesday Morning

Author:  Karen Kingsbury

Summary:  One Tuesday Morning gives us the view of 9/11 from a NYC firefighter and his family. In the book, this fireman, Jake Bryan, sacrificed his life to help others to get out of the World Trade Center. This book shows the impact 9/11 had on families and friends of those who were killed that day.

Rating: 5

Reviewed by:  L. Essenburg 

 

Title: A Child Called ‘It”

Author:  Dave Pelzer

Summary:  The book was okay. For the most part, it was sad. I can’t believe that there are people out there that would abuse their children to this extent. Dave was never allowed to eat with his family, slept down in the basement. He stole food from the grocery store and ate other kids’ lunches at school

Rating: 2

Reviewed by:  K. Elzinga 

 

Title: Storm Gathering

Author: Rene Gutteridge

Summary:  My favorite character in Storm Gathering is Mick Kline who is being prosecuted for the crime of the missing Taylor Franks. The best part of the book is when Mick is declared innocent of the crime of the missing Taylor Franks and when Sammy Earle was charged for the murder of Stephen Fiscall. The most interesting thing about this book was trying to figure out how Taylor Franks disappeared before the book said who did it.

Rating: 3

Reviewed by: L. Koole 

 

Title:  Pride and Prejudice   

Author:  Jane Austen

Summary:  This book is about how social classes played a huge part in relationships of the early 1800’s.  The main characters include Elizabeth Bennet and the differing personalities of her sisters and Mr. Darcy.  It has very difficult vocabulary and was hard to follow in some places, but it was an interesting story.

Rating:  3

Reviewed by:  Kylie Mulder 

 

Title:  Flabbergasted

Author:  Ray Blackston

Summary:  This book was very interesting when they were discussing how they should live, in comparison the how Jesus would live.  It kind of showed me that some people don’t believe in a way that I do and how they related this interested me.

Rating:  2

Reviewed by:  Taylor Noorman 

 

Title:  The Pearl

Author: Angela Hunt

Summary:  In Irene Hunt’s story, The Pearl, the main character grapples with the age-old question of why must the righteous suffer and the question of what is the will of God. After a tragic car accident that claims the life of her five-year old son, the main character, Diane, concludes that God would never want her to live without her precious son and therefore she makes plans to have him cloned. This decision costs her everything, including her marriage and her job as a Christian talk-radio host. Her pearl of greatest price (a reference to Jesus’ parable) is her son, and hence, the title of the story. This story is mostly theologically correct and shows what lengths a Christian can go through to try to make his will -  God’s will.

Rating: 4

Reviewed by: Mrs. Dorothy VanDerSchaaf

 

Title: Secrets

Author:  Robin Jones Gunn

Summary:  My favorite character was Kyle because he was always kind and willing to help. The best part was when he rescued Jessica from her car after it crashed. The most interesting thing I learned is that you can and should help people at any time if they need your help.

Rating: 3

Reviewed by: B. Dykstra 

 

Title: Halos

Author: Kristen Heitzmann

Summary:  My favorite character is Alessi Moore because she is very unique and independent. She also is loving and kind and she feels she has to support herself and pay others back. Also, she is honest. The best part in the book is when she meets Steve.  He doesn’t like her and they argue but then they actually begin to like each other.  I also like the part when Steve proposes two times but she was in the coma the first time. The most interesting thing I learned is how kind people can be even if they haven’t known you long and how generous they are at crucial times.

Rating:  3

Reviewed by: J. L. Dykstra 

 

Title: One Tuesday Morning

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Summary:  My favorite character was Jake Bryan, a firefighter in the FDNY who was in the south tower as it fell. He died. Eric Michaels, a man who looks just like him, was found and identified as Jake. He lived with Jake’s wife and became the “adopted” father of her child. He had amnesia. The flashbacks made him realize that he was not married to the woman. They figured it out in the end.

Rating: 5

Reviewed by: A. Monsma 

 

Title:  She’s All That

Author:  Kristin Billerbeck

Summary:  My favorite character in She’s All That was Lilly, who was also the main character. The best part of this book was the ending, because everything that she wanted at the beginning of the book was given to her and her dreams came true. The most interesting thing learned in She’s All That was that she could accomplish her dreams and be confident in herself at the same time because that’s what happened in the end.

Rating: 4

Reviewed by: N. Monsma

  

Title: True Honor

Author: Dee Henderson

Summary: My favorite character is Sam (Cougar) Houston because he puts his life in danger for those he cares about and for his country. Also, he loves to have adventures. He would give up his own life for Darcy and that is proven.  My favorite part of the book is where they are in the hotel and someone shouts out a window and Sam tells Darcy to get down and he goes to the roof where he was shot at and had to kill the other sniper in order to save Darcy. Also, I liked the part where he teaches Darcy how to swim. The most interesting part is when I learned about how the SEALS do things and how dangerous their job really is.

Rating:  4

Reviewed by: J. L.  Dykstra

  

Title:  Dutchman’s Flat       

Author:  Louise Lamour

Summary:  The setting of the story is centered on the Old Western United States.  What happens in this story is that one man name Chat Lock is accused of shooting a man in the back by the people of a town.  As Chat leaves the town he is followed by a posse of six men.  These men are taking the law into their own hands and are setting out to hang Chat.  Although these men are experienced with survival in the wilderness they keep getting humiliated and played with by Chat Lock.  All the signs that they see show Chat to be a caring person and not the kind of person who would shoot a man in the back.  As they finally reach Chat Lock’s home share Chat and his wife are living they are having their doubts about his guilt.  These doubts lead them to come into the house and listen to him as they have breakfast at his house.  In the end they listen to their consciences and do not hang him but instead let him go with an invitation to come back to their town.

Rating:  5

Reviewed by:  M. Kuiper 

 

Title:  Twilight Child

Author:  Sally Warner

Summary:  My favorite character is Eleni, because she is this young and innocent girl.  All these horrible things happen to her and she gets over it.  The best part of the story is when she fainted at the feet of her long lost love and friend, Mathias.  The interesting thing about the story is that Sally Warner was able to take a legend of twilight children and turn it into an adventure where the main character went thtough trials and was saved by the gift that was thought to be a curse.

Rating:  5

Reviewed by:  H. Scott

 

Title:  Spy for the Night Riders

Author:  Dave and Neta Jackson

Summary:  I learned from this book that John Eric was an enemy of Martin Luther.  My favorite character was Karl because of his loyalty to his mother.  My favorite part of the story was when Luther was kidnapped by friends and brought to Fredric the Wise to keep Luther safe.

Rating:  3

Reviewed by:  R. Doezema

 

Title:  Fever 1793

Author:  Laurie Halse Anderson

Summary:  This book is about the Yellow Fever epidemic that struck Philadelphia in 1793.  It does a good job of describing what life was like during this time.  The reader gets a feel for the panic and fear that the people of Philadelphia faced.  The main character is one of the few people left in the city that summer, because everyone else had fled or died.  It is through her eyes that the reader can see how the epidemic touched the lives of every person in Philadelphia

Rating:  3 

Reviewed by: H. Laning  

 

Title:  Cheaper by the Dozen

Author:  Frank Gilbreth

Summary:  The exaggeration in this book counts for much of its hilarity. However, there could be less exaggeration than I imagine, for a family of 12 children would definitely be exciting.  It is a unique family – the father runs the family like a business and the mother refuses to discipline.  It is a book full of anecdotes and it is a definite must read.

Rating:  5

Reviewed by:  R. Kamps

 

Title: More Homer Price

Author: Robert McCloskey

Summary: My favorite part of the book was after everyone “used” the “Eversomuch more so”. Even though the whole thing was a scam, it really brought out the characters’ attitudes about life. The sheriff mixed up his words more than ever and Grandpa Hercules gets even more convinced that the world is getting bitter. Then they realized how foolish they were in letting their imaginations run away. All except Grandpa Hercules.

Rating:  5

Reviewed by:  B. Westra

 

Title:  Chains:  Seeds of America

Author:  Anderson, Laurie Halse

Summary:  Set during the Revolutionary War, Isabel (a slave girl) begins her fight for freedom.  Promised freedom upon the death from her master, it is suddenly taken away and she is sent to live with a cruel family in New York City.  Isabel is encouraged to spy on her owners who are loyal to the British, but changes her mind when she is promised freedom in exchange for her knowledge of plans of a British invasion.  Excellent book.

Rating:  5

Mrs. Faber

 

Title:  Island of the World

Author:  O’Brien, Michael

Summary:  This is the story of a child born in Yugoslavia before World War II.  His country is torn apart by warring factions, eventually occupied by the Communist party.  When he is twelve years old, his entire world is destroyed and he begins a quest to regain his life, spiritually and physically.  This is a very emotionally charged book, profound and life changing in the lessons that it left me pondering over long after the book was done.

Rating:  5

Mrs. Faber 

  

Title:  A Voice in the Wind 

Author:  Francine Rivers

Summary:  This novel, the first in Francine Rivers’ “Mark of the Lion” trilogy, features a young Jewish Christian, Hadassah, as its main character.  Hadassah, transported to Rome with other Jews who survived the devastation of Jerusalem c.70 A.D., becomes maid-servant to a rich, conniving young mistress in the home of the wealthy Valerian family.  The book does not spare the full picture of the decadence and debauchery of Roman life as Rome’s empire grows in size and sinfulness, and against that backdrop, the steadfast faith of this young Christian shines brightly.  I look forward to reading the next book.

Rating: 4

S. Looyenga

 

  

Title:  The Book Thief

Author;  Markus Zusak

Summary:  If not for the language this would be one of the top 10 books I have read. Liesel and Rudy are highly complex characters that find themselves tossed, turned, and torn in their voyage through adolescence, in war-torn Germany.  Their choices often result in a physical response as they struggle to be children and adults, to be free yet in a war, to have food and to share their last morsel and to protect the ones they love when all events are out of their control.  But through it all there is one ting that gives them hope, identity and a sense of worth:   Words.  And that is why Liesel becomes the “Book Thief”.

Rating: 4

S. Van Uffelen 

 

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone        

Author: JK Rowling

Summary: Book was entertaining and suspenseful but glamorized the occult. Those who were not wizards or sorcerers were labeled “Muggles” and characterized as “ignorant", "mean", and overall "not with it”. The book also implied that magic, witchcraft and the like were great as long as used for good. I would not recommend it to a young audience.

Rating:  2

Mr. DeVries 

 

Title: Kite Runner 

Author: Khaled Hosseini     

Summary: When I was first told this was an interesting book, I didn't believe it.  After all it was about Afghanistan!  But this was one of the best books I've read in a while.  It is about two boys coming of age just before their country is invaded by Russia. It follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant.  They are inseparable as children, telling stories and flying kites, until their relationship is changed forever. 

Rating:  5

Reviewed by Mrs. Faber

 

Title:  The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency 

Author:  Alexander McCall Smith    

Summary:  Set in Botswana, this book is a humorous look at a detective agency run by Mma Ramotswe, who helps people with problems in their lives.

Rating:  4

Reviewed by Mrs. Faber

  

  

Title: Cheaper by the Dozen

Author: Frank Gilbreth

Summary: Unfortunately I learned that I am more like the father in the book than I previously imagined. Trying to keep sanity, order, discipline and a spiritual nature to your home while notes are literally pounded out on the piano, strange smells are the results of your children’s shenanigans, and all your furniture becomes a playground set!  Exaggerated?  Maybe.  Realistic? Yes. A must read? Definitely.

Rating:    5

Mr. Van Uffelen

 

Title: My Life as a Doormat

Author: Rene Gutteridge

Summary: A very enjoyable read for both my wife and myself. In particular we appreciated the rich imagery and poignant examples to “real” everyday life and situations. Although the storyline was quite predictable, it remained a page-turner because of its superb writing and well-developed character. If you don’t mind laughing out loud, read this book!

Rating:   4

Mr. Van Uffelen