Book Review: My Name Is River

From The Back:

It’s 1983, and twelve-year-old River Starling’s life is anything but normal. She was adopted on a whim and came without a birth certificate. Her adoptive parents gave her up to her grandmother when she was only two, but River is certain her parents will come back. River’s hopes fall apart when Gram uproots them from their farmhouse and decides to move to Birdsong, West Virginia, the most miserable town River has ever seen. There she makes an unlikely friendship with an unusual boy and learns about acceptance, hard work, forgiveness, and the love of Jesus. Discover the unforgettable story of one girl’s search for a place to call home. - See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/my-name-is-river#sthash.YG3IfNz8.dpuf

My Reflections:

The story River written by Wendy Dunham is a sweet, moving drama that will speak to the pre-teens and teens alike. It is the perfect springboard to deep discussions about your child's life and thoughts. 

There are some big issues raised in this book. Some of them include being abandoned, having a disability, Preconceived notions about people and our reactions to those beliefs. Lots of fodder for you to get into some great late night chats, and really connect with your young lady. I read this book first then gave it to my 13 year old to read. We had some great talks and I was able to gain an understanding of where she was at on some of these topics. 

Twelve year old River has not only been abandoned by her birth parents but also by her adoptive parents. Raised by her adoptive parents grandmother River must come to terms that she is loved and cared about, even without traditional parents. River faces being uprooted from her home and moves with her grandmother to Birdsong West Virginia. There she meets William Wippoorwill and the duo learn quite a bit about life and acceptance. Their adventures lead them into some dangerous situations, a friendship is bound and new experiences grow River in ways she never imagined.

A very touching story, I would have no hesitations in recommending this book to pre-teens and teens alike. 

I received this book free of charge in return for my honest review from Harvest House Publishers. Thank you Harvest house!


About the Author:

Wendy Dunham

Wendy Dunham is the author of My Name Is River and a registered therapist who works with children with special needs. Her desire is to honor her Creator with whatever it is she's writing about. Whether it's a poem, an article, a devotional, or a novel, her goal is to share hope, encouragement, and unconditional...

Read More > - See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/my-name-is-river#sthash.YG3IfNz8.dpuf

Book Review: Dead Man's Switch

ISBN# 978 0 7369 1747 6

From the Back:

When a teen boy receives a written warning from his friend to avoid his church and leave his remote island town immediately, he’s terrified—his friend died weeks ago!

He knows danger is up ahead when he realizes that his friend’s dead man’s switch computer program has been activated. Unsure who to trust, he sets out alone to unravel a dark conspiracy. Soon, the seeker soon becomes the hunted in an unknown wilderness. The only hope for escape is a trigger-happy hermit—a man with his own secrets to hide.

Fiction fans who love a great mystery and the quest for justice will talk about and think about this book long after the last chapter is read.

My Reflections:
 
This book came in perfect time, as my two home schooled children had just attended a day long workshop on writing, presented by Sigmund Brouwer. You can imagine their excitement when the very next day the book I was reviewing came in the mail. You guessed it, it was Dead Man's Switch. I was super mom for the day! So needless to say both children were eagerly waiting for me to be finished with the book, just so they could be next to read it!

This book was filled with age appropriate drama, action and adventure. You will not find any foul language or young love scenes in this novel, a real breath of fresh air, it is clean and safe for tweens.

If your child is looking for an action packed story, on the edge drama, this book is for them. I was left on the hook until I flipped the last page. I would recommend "Dead Man's Switch" for grades 5 and up as some of the events can be a bit scary and confusing to the younger crowd.

Definitely waiting for the sequel, can't wait to see Sigmund Brouwer at the next writers workshop!

This book was provided free of charge from Harvest House Publishers in return for my honest review. Thank you Harvest House!

About the Author:

Sigmund Brouwer

Sigmund Brouwer is the popular author of more than 40 novels and numerous non-fiction books. He is coauthor of The Last Disciple series, which was featured in Time magazine and on ABC's Good Morning America. Sigmund inspires teens to read through speaking engagements at schools across North America and through his Coolreading.com programs. Sigmund is married to Christian recording artist Cindy Morgan, and they have two daughters.