That's Not Hay In My Hair by Juliette Turner {Young Adult Fiction Review}

That's Not Hay In My Hair

Juliette Turner

Young Adult Fiction

FROM THE

BIG APPLE

TO BIG

ADVENTURES

New York City life may mean crammed sidewalks, gasoline-filled puddles, and angry taxi drivers, but Jules enjoys the towering skyscrapers, her half-block walks to school, and the restaurant smells that waft into her bedroom. Then her mother announces their imminent move to a 300-acre ranch in Texas, where they will be caring for three horses, five dogs, and twenty-five longhorns--all by themselves. Jules is soon running from bats and snakes, rescuing a calf from a twenty-foot ditch, medicating ponies, and dealing with the daily chaos of country living. It may take one special horse to show Jules that a Manhattan girl can survive under the wide Texas skies.

My Thoughts

Most of us have faced a move in our lifetime and know that it can be both thrilling and terrifying. Jules and her momma are about to face all of that and more. After living her whole life (she's now 11) in New York City, Jules is about to move to her family's ranch in the middle of nowhere Texas. To say that she's about to encounter culture shock is a bit of an understatement.

Life on the ranch is delightfully exaggerated. Why have just ordinary cattle when you can have a herd of longhorns? And why should you settle for one dog when you can have a whole pack of them? The wonderful chaos that surrounds life on the ranch is sure to make the reader laugh. Juliette's writing style is perfect for the tween reader.

I personally liked the interactions with the other characters. Jules' grandmother is a bossy flossy sort, but her grandfather is the perfect mate with his patient endurance. Meeting new friends can be nerve wracking but Jules winds up with some good ones.

Whether you're about to embark on a move or not, this would be the perfect summer read for your tween. The snappy dialogue and the zany situations are sure to keep your young reader engaged and entertained. The fact that the author is a teen herself should also inspire your kiddo that they could be a writer as well.

Connect With The Author

www.JulietteTurner.net

www.VoiceOfTheFuture.org

www.polikids.com

Twitter - Facebook

Lightning (Stone Braide Chronicles, Bk 2) by Bonnie S. Calhoun {YA Dystopian Book Review}

Lightning

Stone Braide Chronicles, Bk 2

Bonnie S. Calhoun

YA Fiction / Dystopian Romance

Selah's past and her future are about to collide . . . 

and time is running out.

Selah Rishon thought that finding her real father would solve her problems. Instead it has created a host of new ones. She is feeling strange, destructive flashes of power within her body. The family she left behind is being sequestered in the Mountain. And if her father and his team cannot find the key to the West and make contact with the Third Protocol of Landers, Selah will fracture.

Selah is trying to accept this new world, but none of the facts she's learned about novarium or Landers are adding up. Determined to find answers, she launches a new rescue effort to the Mountain. But will the prison that holds her family become Selah's grave?

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

If you've been in the teen section of your local book store or library you already know that dystopian fiction is all the rage. We're not talking old school dystopian like Orwell's 1984 or Huxley's Brave New World. I'm talking about things like The Hunger Games and Divergent series.

I don't want to take issue with those books but let's just say that I want something better for my teens to read. I believe I've found it in Bonnie S. Calhoun's Stone Braide Chronicles series. The first book in the series was entitled Thunder. There are also two ebooks Tremors and Aftershock that fill in some of the background. (I've not read either of the ebooks.) I was pleasantly surprised by this series because it isn't my usual go to genre. Lightning has solidified my love for this author's writing.

Lightning picks up where we left off with Selah and the rest of the characters. Because of that I would characterize this as a series that needs to be read in order. (I still think the ebooks are optional but they would enhance the story.) The story line is complex and without the background material I think you would be a bit lost.

The story is intense and fast-paced. Perfect to keep the attention of a young adult reader. As I've said before I'm not a young adult and I don't normaly care for dystopian fiction but Bonnie Calhoun's writing style is absolutely riveting. There is very little fluff involved in these stories but they are chock-full of moral dilemmas that cause the reader to ponder their own response. 

While the ending was quite satisfying it also leaves open the need for more books in this series. I can't wait to read them and see how this futuristic society will survive. Thanks Bonnie Calhoun for changing my mind about a genre and providing hours of reading enjoyment.

Connect With The Author

www.BonnieSCalhoun.com

Facebook  -  Pinterest  -  Goodreads

Twitter  -  YouTube

Believe Student Edition by Randy Frazee ~ Living The Story of the Bible to Become Like Jesus

Believe Student Edition

Randy Frazee

Young Adult Nonfiction/Bible

You've heard the story of the Bible.

Now it's time to make it your own.

Think. Act. Be.

Let the bible transform you. This is not a book that leaves hearts unchanged.

Believe Student Edition takes you on an exploration into ten key beliefs, ten key practices, and ten key virtues of Christianity. Grounded in carefully selected Scripture passages, Believe Student Edition is a spiritual growth experience that takes you on a journey to think, act, and become more like Jesus.

The Bible is more than just a book of stories. It's a blueprint for living. Let the words of God change you as you learn how to think, act, and become more like Jesus.

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

Teenage years can be turbulent. Pressure from outsiders and from ones self can make day-to-day living a maze of uncertainty. But what if there were a way to help our teens navigate that path? When they were younger we were so diligent about reading them Bible stories before bed but now that they are older it is easy to set that aside. I say let's not slip into the idea of entrusting others to guide our teens. Instead let's engage them with Scripture and show them that there is a plan and they are part of it.

Randy Frazee's Believe Student Edition is a great tool to begin an in depth study on what the Bible says about how we as Christians should think, act, and be. It goes along with the other editions of the books and curriculum so that you could easily incorporate it into a family study. Each of the thirty chapters cover the exact same topics that the adult and kids' editions cover. The only difference is that the writing is being addressed to the teenage audience it was designed for. 

I say that this would be perfect for a family study but I also think it would be a very useful study in youth groups as well. There is a whole student curriculum DVD study that goes along with it that would help introduce each topic to the entire group.  

I would recommend this to any family with teenagers or any group that works with teenagers. The study of God's Word will give them a solid foundation and an assurance of who they are and what is expected of them in the body of Christ.

Connect With The Author

www.RandyFrazee.com

www.BelieveTheStory.com

Facebook I Twitter I YouTube

An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund {YA Historical Fiction Review}

An Uncertain Choice

Jody Hedlund

YA Historical Fiction

ONE MONTH . . .

ONE DECISION

Due to her parents' promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie prepared herself to become a nun the day she turns eighteen. but a month before her birthday everything changes when a friend of her father's enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents' will left a second choice--if Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year she will be exempt from the ancient vow.

Soon, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in teh land. But when the competition for her heart seemingly results in a knight playing foul, she begins to wonder if the cloister is the best place after all. If only one of the knights--the one who appears the most guilty--had not already captured her heart.

The Prequel

Before I give you my thoughts on An Uncertain Choice I wanted to let you know that there is a prequel called The Vow. 

In this historical romance novella by Jody Hedlund, young Rosemarie finds herself drawn to Thomas, the son of the nearby baron. But just as her feelings begin to grow, a man carrying the Plague interrupts their hunting party. While in forced isolation, Rosemarie begins to contemplate her future—could it include Thomas? Could he be the perfect man to one day rule beside her and oversee her parents’ lands?

Then Rosemarie is summoned back to her castle in haste. The disease has spread, and her family is threatened. And the secret she discovers when she returns could change her future forever.

My Thoughts

Like most girls I enjoy a good fairy tale. I like the story of princesses and castles, knights in shining armor swooping in to save the day, and of course the happily-ever-after endings.  I just can't resist being swept up in the romance of it all for a few hours.

I've been a fan of Jody Hedlund's historical fiction so when she released her first young adult historical fiction I just had to give it a try. It was everything that I had envisioned and more. The beautiful princess Rosemarie has lost her parents to the Plague but she is fortunate to have what she thinks is trustworthy mentors to guide her in ruling her lands.

By the time we enter the story Rosemarie has come to terms with devoting herself to living out the rest of her life at the convent. But this is a fairy-tale so we have to have some dashing knights to woo the beautiful princess. Not one but three of the bravest and handsomest knights in the land come to Montfort Castle with the intention of winning the hand of Rosemarie.

The story that proceeds is one of intrigue and romance. What appears to be the truth is a far cry from it. I enjoyed the journey through the unfolding story. I had inklings of what was happening out of eyesight but it didn't ruin the story at all, in fact it enhanced it.

I would highly recommend this wonderful book to teens and older. There is nothing untoward in it but it does have subject matter that would be better understood by someone in their teens rather than younger. Remember that this is set in the Medieval period so torture was a very accepted form of punishment. Some of that is described in the story. As an adult I found it to be a great read. It moves along quickly and the vocabulary is rich. If you liked the current version of Cinderella that is playing in theaters I think you will be drawn to this as well. I'm looking forward to the future books in this series.

Connect With The Author

www.JodyHedlund.com

Twitter  I  Facebook  I  Goodreads

Instagram  I  Pinterest

Thunder by Bonnie S. Calhoun ~ YA Dystopian Romance Review

Thunder

Stone Braide Chronicles, Book 1

Bonnie S. Calhoun

YA Dystopian Romance

The Time of Sorrows is long past.

The future of Selah and her people is shrouded in mystery.

And the clock is ticking.

Hidden in the tall grasses along a shore littered with the rusted metal remnants of a once-great city, a hunter crouches. It is the eve of her eighteenth Birth Remembrance and high time she proves to herself and her brothers that she can stand on her own two feet. Selah Rishon Chavez waits not for game but for one of the small boats that occasionally crash against the desolate shoreline. Because inside one of these boats she will find her quarry--a Lander.

These people from an unknown land across the ocean are highly prized by the Company and bring a good price--especially if they keep the markings they arrive with.

Everything falls to pieces when the Lander whom Selah catches is stolen by her brothers, and Selah wakes the next morning to find the Lander's distinctive mark has appeared on her own flesh. Once the hunter, Selah is now one of the hunted, and she knows only one person who can help her--Bodhi Locke, the Lander her brothers hope to sell in the Mountain.

With evocative descriptions of a strange new world that combines elements of disturbing scientific advances, devious political conspiracy, and survival in a hostile wilderness, Bonnie S. Calhoun weaves a captivating tale of a society more like our own than we may want to admit. From the tension-laced first scene to the captivating last page, Thunder is an epic journey into the heart of humankind that explores how far we are willing to go when we're pushed to the limit.



My Thoughts
Young Adult fiction is not something that I'm usually drawn to. Young Adult Dystopian Romance is nothing that I would have ever guessed that I would read. But let me tell you that I am so glad I did.
Bonnie Calhoun has put together a fast-paced thriller that changed my opinion of this genre entirely. The story is based in a post-apocalyptic America, the east coast to be specific. It has been 150 years since the great Sorrows struck and much of the surrounding area lays in ruins. 
There is a mysterious group known as the Landers that is being hunted for the bounty that is upon their heads. Bodhi Locke is one of those Landers and he finds himself imprisoned and heading to an unknown fate.
Shortly after Selah Chavez's eighteenth Birth Remembrance everything that Selah thought she knew about her life comes unraveled. To save her life she must run away from home and everyone she holds dear. The one person that can help her is Bodhi, but to gain his help she must first free him.
The reader is taken on a fascinating journey that flashes between locations and different groups of people. The story has a science fiction tone to it that adds to the mystery of what is going on. While this is definitely a romance, there is so much more to the story than the relationship between Selah and Bodhi. 
This would make a great read for teens. The primary character, Selah, is eighteen so some of the scenes are geared towards that age group. I don't think that I would recommend it for a tween, but I only say that because of the overall themes. There is nothing unsavory that goes on in this book. The characters are not promiscuous or racy. But there is definitely attraction and heart thumping romance going on between Selah and Bodhi. 
If you just aren't sure if you would like this book and series you're in luck. Bonnie has written a prequel novella entitled Tremors that is currently a free download for your favorite ereader. It is a great way to get a taste of the flavor of the novel. It gives background on the characters and how they got where they are and it also includes a portion of Thunder to really whet your appetite.

Connect With The Author

www.BonnieSCalhoun.com

Facebook

Pinterest

Goodreads

Twitter ~ @BonnieCalhoun

YouTube

Dreamtreaders by Wayne Thomas Batson ~ A Young Adult Fantasy Review and Giveaway

Dreamtreaders

Dreamtreaders Trilogy, Book 1

Wayne Thomas Batson

Juvenile Fiction/Fantasy

Back of the book:

SAVING THE WORLD 

ONE DREAM AT A TIME

Fourteen-year-old Archer Keaton is a dreamtreader, one of three people in the entire world destined to defeat evil forces lurking in the Dream. The dreamtreaders' mission is to stop the Nightmare Lord, who terrorizes the dreams of innocent people all over the world. However, Archer's fellow dreamtreaders have gone missing so he's all alone in his fight. And strange sightings in the Dream make Archer think that someone who is not supposed to be there has been trespassing and it's up to him to find and stop the interloper.

But as Archer's adventures in the Dream become more threatening, so too does his waking life. Rigby Thames, the new kid from England, has become popular overnight, and his new group of followers is acting secretive and suspicious. Even Archer's best friend Kara is spending alll of her time with Rigby. Archer can't put his finger on it, but there's more going on with Rigby than meets the eye.

As Archer faces two foes in two worlds, will he be able to quell the nightmares haunting his dreams and reality?

From Jacob's dream of the heavenly stairway in Genesis 28 to angels visiting Joseph's dreams in Matthew 1, dreams have been powerful ingredients of God's plan as revealed through Scripture. This fantasy adventure imagines a whole dream world where God's warriors literally battle evil every night.

My thoughts:

If you have enjoyed C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series or Tolkein's Lord of the Rings series, it is probably a fair guess that you are going to like Batson's newest book Dreamtreaders.

In Dreamtreaders we are allowed to explore three different worlds, the Temporal, the Ethereal, and the Dream. The Temporal realm is where all humans dwell during the waking hours. The Ethereal realm is where humanity came from and it is also their ultimate destiny. Finally the Dream realm is the realm between the two.

"Dream is the twilight world intended to remind those dwelling in the Temporal that there is a far better land, a spectacular far-off country, that waits for them in the someday . . . in the plane of the Ethereal."

With the opening scene we are thrust into the Dream with dreamtreader, Archer Keaton. Archer is there just to patch up some breaches but against all directions to the contrary he decides to take on the Nightmare Lord. After a very close call we follow Archer back into the Temporal realm and experience his life with his family, friends and schoolmates.

The story continues to split between the two worlds with action packed scenes filled with important lessons. The characters are fascinating and the switching between the worlds is very plausible in a fantasy type of way. I appreciated how Archer was portrayed. He made mistakes and he fell into temptations of self-will as any typical teenager would. What set this story apart from so many others in the genre, was that Archer corrected and learned from his mistakes. I also appreciated that even though it was a fantasy book it had good Biblical basis that should lead to some great discussions with your middle grade reader.

While science fiction and young adult fiction are not my typical cup of tea, this story kept my attention throughout the entire book. In fact I am looking forward to reading book two when it comes out. I do however, have two areas of caution. First this is a trilogy, so this is not a stand-alone book. You are going to be left hanging at the end so you will need to read the next two books to see this story draw to a conclusion. Secondly, this book is recommended for readers ages eight to twelve. I would have no problem handing this book to my twelve-year-old without pre-reading it. But I'm not so sure about the younger set. There is nothing out-of-bounds about this story (no sex, no cursing, no untoward innuendos) but it does have violent fighting scenes that might be best experienced while reading with an adult.

Connect with the author:

EnterTheDoorWithin.blogspot.com

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter ~ @WayneBatson

The Giveaway:

We have partnered with Tommy Nelson to offer one of our readers a copy of the book Dreamtreaders. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents and will run through midnight on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. The winner will be contacted by email and will have forty-eight hours to claim the prize. If unclaimed, a new winner will be drawn. The winners’ entries will be verified. Please enter the contest using the Rafflecopter form below. All entries are optional.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post with Author of "What's Wrong With Me?" by Daree Allen @DareeAllen

Currently author Daree Allen, MS is on her Official “What’s Wrong With Me?” Blog Tour. Over a 7 week period she will appear on 35 different blogs and websites.

Can You Be Your Own Mentor?

By Author Daree Allen, MS

With January being National Mentoring month, President Obama recently issued the following proclamation: “Every day, mentors help young Americans face the challenges of growing into adulthood. By setting a positive example and sharing their time, knowledge, and experience, mentors play an essential role in preparing our Nation’s youth for a bright future.” January 2012 marks the 11th Annual National Mentoring Month has the theme, "Invest in the Future: Mentor a Child." It highlights the importance of mentors and the need for every child to have the guidance of a caring adult.

Indeed, adolescence is a critical time for mentoring. Without positive role models, teen girls especially often face a “crisis of confidence” and are especially vulnerable to risky behavior and making bad choices with devastating lifelong consequences. I certainly could have used a mentor when I was growing up--I had no one to help me with certain "growing up girl" issues, or to help foster or reinforce healthy self-esteem. I didn't grow up around extended family or have "built-in" friends (like cousins) at school to have my back. God's grace helped me make it to adulthood.

But mentoring is not just for the kiddies. Could you use a little more mentoring? I sure could. Women in business (whether corporate or entrepreneurs) need professional mentoring too. And SAHMs benefit greatly from the camaraderie of other moms--everything from playdates to mom blogging can benefit from sharing tips and tools with other moms. (Technically I am both, since I work from home.)

You may not be a teenager, or have one, but maybe you need mentoring on a particular subject. How will you do it?

A couple of years ago, I picked up "Be Your Own Mentor" by Anne Bruce because I knew I was going to need help writing my book (a self-help book on teen mentoring, funny enough. And I have not read it yet, but I will!) One thing I can tell you upon skimming it is that it takes a lot of work and discipline to mentor oneself. I already know about self-discipline from working at home for the past 7 years with an 8-year-old daughter, but for most of us, we need accountability from someone we trust, and if that person can be a mentor or coach to us because they've been in the trenches before, so much the better.

Can you be your own mentor? If not, how will you choose one, when, and for what goal?

 

About Daree Allen:

Daree Allen is an authorpreneur, young adult esteem advocate, speaker, and goal-getter in Atlanta, GA. She has published articles on a variety of topics as a freelance writer and blogger, and is the author of the new teen mentoring book entitled, "What's Wrong With Me?" in which she discusses her own childhood dealing with self-esteem, premarital sex, family and personal relationships. Find out more about her work at DareesInsights.com, DareeAllen.com, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

Publisher: Kharacter Distinction Books (February 14, 2012)
Language: English

Genre: Young Adult/Self-Help

ISBN-10: 0983745501
ISBN-13: 978-0983745501
Buy it on Amazon

About "What's Wrong With Me?"

Premarital sex. Drugs. Dating violence. Dropping out of school. So many choices, good and bad, are available for youth in America today, and girls continue to be especially vulnerable. They often blame themselves for things that go wrong in their lives, even when it s not their fault. They ask, What s wrong with me?, or they hear, What s wrong with you?! and brace themselves for the denigrating comments to follow. It s a timeless theme: girls grow up in every generation struggling with self-esteem, confidence, body image issues, uncertainty about dating, and insecurity about their identities. Where do they turn for answers or role models? Friends and peers don t make for such great influences and mentors when they are floundering themselves. Images of women of color in the media (TV and music videos) reinforce an impossible ideal and lack of self-esteem. How do girls today make decisions that will positively impact their future and not become victims of their surroundings? How can they affirm their Christianity proudly and not succumb to the deteriorating values of modern society? In this empowering Christian self-help book, Allen weaves her memoir from 20 years of journaling with lessons that still ring true for girls today, about such topics as accepting their identity, adopting a healthy body image, dating relationships, dealing with toxic friends and family members, avoiding or delaying premarital sex, building self-esteem, developing a positive attitude, dressing for success, setting goals, spending money wisely, handling anger and depression, and embracing their singleness, discovering their life purpose, and keeping God first.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Shattered A Daughter's Regret by Melody Carlson

Shattered

Melody Carlson

Young Adult Fiction

Cleo Neilson's best friend is moving away and she wants to make Lola's last night in town special. For Cleo, that means going to the big Christian concert in the city, but her mom won't allow her to go. She says that area of the city is too dangerous for two unchaperoned teenage girls.

Convinced her mom is just being an overprotective "helicopter" mom, she sneaks out of the house. After all, her mom has to let her grow up sometime, right? 

Cleo now faces the chilling consequences of her actions and a secret that it is eating her up inside. As Cleo fights through her grief and guilt, she learns about faith in God and forgiveness through him.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this story. It tackles a lot of hard topics such as death, guilt, Jealousy, drugs, and relationships.  This is a YA fiction and it would be a great book for teens and their parents to read and then discuss the book.  I have always been a fan on Melody Carlson and I was pleased to see that she is still writing relevant topics that teens need answers to.  I think teens will love this book and the great thing is that this is a series so there is more to come. Use this book for a conversation starter with your teen. If parents can talk with their teens about tough topics then there is a safety net.  I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from Navpress and Glass Road for my honest review.