The Ball and the Cross

by G.K. Chesterton. This was an excellent book that I read last year. I quickly got drawn into the story. I fell in love with one of the characters, hated and later liked another, and could hardly put the book down. I was reading it on my iPad and woke up in the morning a few times to find I had fallen asleep while reading. There is a lot of believable and interesting character development as well as typical Chestertonian humor. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Where the Red Fern Grows

by Wilson Rawls. This is a good story about a boy and his two coonhounds, and the many adventures that they have together.

I had to read this for school, and I hoped that it wouldn't be like the book The Yearling, which I didn't enjoy at all. It was nothing like The Yearling, and I really liked the book. My sister also read it, and so I was able to discuss it with her. After I had read it and told my brother a little bit about it, he decided to read it too. That was nice, because then I was able to discuss the book with two of my siblings, instead of just one. Anyone who likes dogs will especially enjoy this book.

Little Men

by Louisa May Alcott. The sequel to Little Women, this book is set at Plumfield (Aunt Josephine March's old home) and is about boys who go to the school which Jo and her husband started there. While I would say that Little Women is decidedly a girls' book (though boys might enjoy bits of it), Little Men would probably be enjoyed by boys and girls alike.

The House of the Seven Gables

by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a good book. Briefly, it is about Hepzibah Pyncheon, Clifford Pyncheon, Phoebe Pyncheon, and Judge Pyncheon. Hepzibah Pyncheon is a sour, grouchy old lady until young relative (Phoebe) comes and brightens up the lives of Hepzibah and Clifford. Clifford had spent many years in prison, on the charge of murdering his uncle, Jaffrey Pyncheon. Clifford is rather like his sister until Phoebe comes to stay with them for a while. Judge Pyncheon is Hepzibah and Clifford’s cousin and while some of his offers to help them seem kindly, he is really harsh and unjust and definitely deserved his fate at the end of the story.

Sorry that I haven't posted anything for awhile, but my family and I are busy.

The Lord of the Rings

by J. R. R. Tolkien. This is actually a trilogy, and while some might call a it a fairy tale, it is very different from fairy tales such as Snow White, Goldilocks, and Rapunzel.

The Fellowship of the Ring : In the first book, two hobbits, Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee set out, per Gandalf's request, to destroy the ring made many, many years before by Sauron. They are joined by two other hobbits, and five other companions, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, making nine members of the fellowship.

The Two Towers : The first half of the second book focuses on the adventures of Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf. The second half focuses on Frodo and Sam, who, having been seperated from the rest of the party, continue on their way to Mount Doom, with the assistance of Gollum.

The Return of the King : The conclusion, I will leave for you to find out for yourselves. However, you can comment and ask me to write a little something if you would like.   

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

by Elizabeth George Speare.  I read this book once before for the Literary Club which my sister and I were  a part of.  I recently read it again, and thoroughly enjoyed it as before.  Kit Tyler, looking at the shores of New England where she is going to live with her mother's sister and her family, realizes that her life will be very different from the life she enjoyed with her grandfather in the Caribbean.  This book is a good book which I would recommend for Grade 5 and up.  In reading or listening to it, one learns a lot about life in New England in the 1600's.   

The Yearling

by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is the story of a boy and his pet fawn, living in the backwoods of Florida sometime in the 1800's. Both I and a friend who has read it agree that it was well-written, but not a very enjoyable book. On the other hand, my sister read it and thoroughly enjoyed it, so you should probably read it, and decide for yourself whether it is enjoyable or not. I would appreciate any comments after you have read it.

Rilla of Ingleside

by L. M. Montgomery is the last book in the "Anne of Green Gables" series. I really enjoyed it; however, be sure to read Rainbow Valley (book 7), first, as the authour has various characters refer to events that took place in Rainbow Valley. The reason that I read Rilla of Ingleside first was because in one of my family's Anne of Green Gables books, Rainbow Valley is listed last.

The Lark in the Morn

by Elfrida Vipont. This book is published by Bethlehem Books, and as with all the books they publish, is a really good book. Kit Haverard is a young girl who greatly frustrates her cousin, Laura, who runs the Haverard household. After an illness, Kit is sent to stay with her great-aunts at Manningleigh, where she discovers her talent for singing. This is the first of two books about Kit Haverard.

Emily of New Moon

by L. M. Montgomery is a good book. It is similar to the Anne of Green Gables books in several aspects. I read it on the recommendation of a friend and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Emily Byrd Starr has never known what it is like to be lonely until her father dies. She doesn't think that living with two aunts at New Moon will be much fun, but once she makes friends it's not so bad after all.

Darby O'Gill and the Good People

by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh. The most enjoyable chapter, in my opinion, is "The Banshee's Comb". Anyone who enjoys tales set in Ireland will REALLY enjoy this book, cover to cover!

Disney changed a lot in making the movie "Darby O'Gill and the Little People", but of course, film-makers always have to adapt a book quite a bit before making a movie based upon the book. It's still a good movie.

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

by Hugh Lofting.  Join Dr. John Dolittle, his friends, Tommy Stubbins, Bumpo, Chee-Chee, Jip, and Polynesia on their adventurous voyage to Spider Monkey Island. Whether the doctor is bull-fighting in Spain, or governing the natives of  Spider Monkey Island as their king, you'll will enjoy the whole book from cover-to-cover!

Anne of Green Gables

by L. M. Montgomery is the first book in the "Anne of Green Gables" series. Laugh and cry with Anne as you read about her mischevous escapades, and her dissapointments. There are some times in the book when you want to laugh and cry, such as when Anne let her friend, Diana, have three glasses of wine, thinking that it was rasberry cordial.

The Mystery of the Emeralds

by Kathryn Kenny is probably the best Trixie Belden book I have read.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

They Loved to Laugh

by Kathryn Worth. This book is published by Bethlehem Books. I got through it in two days, and when I do that, it's a sign that the book is EXCELLENT!

Christmas With Anne, and other stories

by L. M. Montgomery. If you like the Anne of Green Gables Series, you'll certainly love this collection of sixteen heart-warming Christmas/New Year's stories by the same author.

At the Back of the North Wind

by George MacDonald. I read this book for the Literary Club which I go to, and I think that it is one of the best books that the club's leader has told us to read for the club.

Trixie Belden: Mystery on the Mississippi

by Kathryn Kenny. I think that this is one of the best Trixie Belden books I have read. The Bob-Whites have gone on a trip to Missourri with Mr. Wheeler, and as usual, Trixie can't help but find a mystery.

The Trumpeter of Krakow

by Eric P. Kelly. The Trumpeter of Krakow is a GREAT book which takes place in Poland during the 15th Century. If anyone out there is at all like me, you'll want to read this book over and over again.

The Texas Panhandle Series

by Loula Grace Erdman is an excellent series! Each book focuses mainly on one of the three Pierce girls during their 15th year of life.

The three books are:

1. The Wind Blows Free
2. The Wide Horizon
3. The Good Land

I really enjoy reading all of these books over, and over, and over again.