Book Review :: Adored: 365 Devotions for Young Women

Adored: 365 Devotions for Young Women is a new devotional for young women. 

Since this devotional is for young women, I handed it over to my teen daughter to check out. She said the devotionals are interesting and because they are short they keep her wanting to read more, but she also said that the "message seems the same, said in different ways". (The message being: "You are adored.") She said the devotionals seem easy to relate to, but my be aimed at girls a little older than her since it mentions college several times. She said Adored is good, but not necessarily her favorite devotional. She rates it 4 out of 5 stars. 

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through their book review bloggers program. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: Promises for You Coloring Devotional: 60 Days Discovering God's Hope & Love by Faithgirlz

The Promises for You Coloring Devotional is a new coloring devotional from Faithgirlz. It is a hardcover book with some foil accents on the cover to add a little extra pizzazz. The pages in the Promises for You Coloring Devotional are a nice, thick weight - cardstock, basically. The weight of the pages will be an advantage for certain coloring mediums. 

The Promises for You Coloring Devotional contains 60 devotionals in total, with 12 each according to certain promise topics. 

The topics are:

- Promises of Strength, Courage, and Hope

- Promises of Forgiveness, Comfort, and Safety

- Promises of Truth, Wisdom, and Beauty

- Promises of Faith, Trust, and Joy

- Promises of Gifts and Blessings

Each devotional has the same basic format - a verse, a few sentences on the topic including a short prompt, and some lines to respond with thoughts and/or prayers. And of course there are plenty of images to color. The images range from patterns and swirls to plants and animals...and a few delicious treats are thrown into the mix, too.

My 13 year old daughter took a peek at the Promises for You Coloring Devotional and she felt that the devotional portions of this book were too short. She also recognized that some of the artwork had been duplicated from other Zondervan/Zonderkidz coloring books that we own. With that said, I know she will still enjoy this book, and she can use it as a jumping off point to dive deeper into God's word.

In my opinion, this devotional is a coloring book with a boost - and a great choice for any tween or teen girl.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through their book review bloggers program. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: Miracle in Music City (Glimmer Girls Series) by Natalie Grant

Miracle in Music City is the third book in the Faithgirlz Glimmer Girls Series by Natalie Grant. (London Art Chase and A Dolphin Wish are the first two books in the series.)

Because Miracle in Music City is a "tween" book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review (*spoilers included*):

Miracle in Music City is about three girls who, together, solve a mystery. Gloria Glimmer, their mother, wants them to learn that you are never too young to make a difference, so when she is invited to sing at an auction being held at The Grand 'Ole Opry, they take it as their chance to help. Their teacher, Mrs. Carpenter, donated an old guitar to the auction. She told the girls that it belonged to Earl Eldridge Jr., a famous singer that happened to be her great-grandfather. The girls spend time at the local soup kitchen and make a friend, but soon afterward, the famous guitar goes missing! The girls work together to return the guitar, and they also donate some clothes, toys, and books to their new friend. They all learn what true friendship is. 

I asked my daughter a few questions about Miracle in Music City - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting?

Yes.

Do you plan to read it again?

Yes.

What did you like about this book?

I liked the story better than the mystery in this one.

What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?

I didn't like how the book was mostly a story, not a mystery. The guitar was only gone for a short time, so there wasn't much mystery.

Would you recommend this book to others your age?

No.

What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?

8 to 10

Any other comments about this book?

No.

Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?

4 stars.

The Glimmer Girls series by Natalie Grant is a great option for tween readers, and I know my daughter is looking forward to the third book in the series (The Miracle in Music City) being released later in 2016.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: The Dragon's Descent (An Ether Novel) by Laurice E. Molinari

The Dragon's Descent is the third book in the Ether series. The Ether novels are Laurice E. Molinari's first novels. (Prior to these, she was most known for her script writing for movies such as My Girl, The Brady Bunch Movie, and more.)

Because The Dragon's Descent is a "tween" book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review (*spoilers included*):

The Dragon's Descent is the third book in the Ether series. In this book, Vero returns to the Ether, the realm of angels, and is told that the journey he has been dreading must finally take place. Vero is the only guardian angel who is worthy enough to search for the Book of Raziel, a blue sapphire that was lost long ago by Raziel himself. Raziel remembers nothing about the book's whereabouts and begs Vero to help him. Vero, his sister (Clover), and his friend (Tack) all work together to find the book and return it to its rightful owners. Traitors, enemies, and other struggles fall upon the three, but they soon fulfill their journey and Vero must leave the earth, and become a full-fledged guardian angel. 

I asked my daughter a few questions about The Dragon's Descent - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting?

It wasn't my favorite.

Do you plan to read it again?

Maybe.

What did you like about this book?

I liked the end, where Vero went to meet with God.

What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?

I'm not exactly sure. I just didn't like it as much as the other books.

Would you recommend this book to others your age?

Yes.

What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?

10 to 12

Any other comments?

My favorite one is the Pillars of Fire.

Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?

3 stars.

My son (who has loved the entire Ether series) told me that this book was probably his favorite of the three, and he would rate it 5 stars. We're meeting in the middle of both opinions and rating this 4 stars.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: 101 Ways to Have Fun: Things You Can Do with Friends, Anytime! by Editors of Faithgirlz! and Girls' Life magazine

101 Ways to Have Fun by Editors of Faithgirlz! and Girls' Life Mag is a magazine-style book geared toward tweens. 

Because 101 Ways to Have Fun is a "tween" book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review:

This book is a great way to have fun when you're bored. It contains DIY projects, fun snacks, and nail ideas. It gives you things to do by yourself, things to do with friends, ways to make money, and ideas on how to throw a party. This books seems like the activities need to be planned, rather than pulling out this book and looking for things to do right away.

I asked my daughter a few questions about 101 Ways to Have Fun - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting?

Not really.

Do you plan to read it again?

Not really.

What did you like about this book?

Some of the things that were supposed to help you calm down.

What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?

Most things needed to be planned instead of just doing it right away.

Would you recommend this book to others your age?

No.

What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?

10 to 12

Any other comments about this book?

No.

Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?

3 stars.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: More For Girls Only! Devotions by Carolyn Larsen, illustrated by Colonel Moutarde

More For Girls Only! Devotions is a devotional book geared toward tween girls. The interior pages are all in pinkscale (words, illustrations, everything). 

Because More For Girls Only! Devotions is a "tween" book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review:

This devotional is AWESOME!!! I would rate it ten stars if I could! If I wrote a devotional, I would want it to be like this. I like it because every devotional begins with a story about a girl who's having trouble or a girl who did something right, and then it has a little quiz about what you would have done in that situation. It has a few verses to memorize, some quotes from famous people, and to-do lists. It has quotes from Scripture as well. This seems like a book to help you determine right from wrong and a book to help you be closer to God.

I asked my daughter a few questions about More For Girls Only! Devotions - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting?

Yes.

Do you plan to read it again?

Yes.

What did you like about this book?

Everything!

What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?

Nothing!

Would you recommend this book to others your age?

Yes.

What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?

11 to 13

Any other comments about this book?

It's a really good book!

Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?

5 stars.

FTC Declaration: Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through their book review bloggers program. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: That's NOT Hay In My Hair by Juliette Turner

That's NOT Hay In My Hair is a new book by teen author Juliette Turner. 

Because That's NOT Hay In My Hair is a teen/tween book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review (*spoilers included*):

Juliette (Jules) Turner lives in a very cramped apartment in New York. So cramped, in fact, that when she takes a bath, it floods the bathroom! Jules is about to move to Texas, where her mom grew up and where Jules lived when she was younger. When they first arrive, Jules is almost thrown off her horse, R2 (named after R2-D2!), her mom is, and they encounter a (harmless, but scary!) snake. Jules and her mom go from rescuing calves from a dry ravine to untangling a horse from a wire fence! But none of that can compare to how scary it was to have their other horse, Maggie May, get foundered, which means her hoof doesn't have enough "sole" between her hoof bone and her "sole wall". Jules and her mom face a very hard time caring for Maggie, until she finally dies. Jules finds that Texans are the best kind of friends when they're there to comfort them.

I asked my daughter a few questions about That's NOT Hay In My Hair - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting?

Yes.

Do you plan to read it again?

Yes!

What did you like about this book?

That it was very...emotional. You really got to know Jules, and everything that happened seemed like it was happening to you.

What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?

There was a lot of detail in some parts, and in other parts there was none. When the cows chased after them, there was about one page on that subject, as if it were normal!

Would you recommend this book to others your age?

Yes.

What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?

Maybe 10 to 15

Any other comments about this book?

No.

Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?

4 stars.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: Curio by Evangeline Denmark

Curio is a hardcover book written by Evangeline Denmark.

Because Curio is a teen/tween book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review (*spoilers included*):

Grey Howard lives in Mercury City, where Chemists roam the streets with their chemia magic. Grey's grandfather, Olan Howard, owns a shop where the ancient curio cabinet lies, unused. Grey receives a strange mark on her skin, which makes Olan believe she is special. His faithful assistant, Hiamon, sends Grey on a journey through the curio cabinet, telling her to rescue "him". While she's in the cabinet, she finds a world made of metal, porcelain, and other materials. The "porcies" (people made of porcelain) welcome her into their home, where "tocks" (metal people) are the servants. In Curio she meets the "Mad Tock", a boy named Blaise. Blaise also has a mark, and he tells her that they are both Defenders. Together they fight a battle, defeat Lord Blueboy, and escape. (Blaise is the one Hiamon wanted Grey to save. He had been sent into the cabinet a long time ago.)

I asked my daughter a few questions about Curio - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting?

Yes.

Do you plan to read it again?

Yes.

What did you like about this book?

Everything.

What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?

Nothing.

Would you recommend this book to others your age?

Yes.

What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?

12 to 15

Any other comments about this book?

It's a good book. 

Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?

4 stars.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Reviews :: London Art Chase and A Dolphin Wish (Glimmer Girls Series) by Natalie Grant

London Art Chase and A Dolphin Wish are the first two books in the Faithgirlz Glimmer Girls Series by Natalie Grant. (The third book, The Miracle in Music City, is set to be released later this year.)

The first book in the Faithgirlz Glimmer Girls Series is London Art Chase.

Because London Art Chase is a "tween" book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review (*spoilers included*):

Maddie, her sisters (Mia and Lulu), her nanny, and her parents are off to London! Maddie's mom (Gloria Glimmer) is a famous singer , and she's performing in a concert. On a trip to the National Gallery, Maddie sees a thief steal her favorite painting. She drags her sisters all over London to find the thief, and even goes so far as to break the rules and run away! Maddie soon finds that the thief wasn't really a thief, but someone who cleans the paintings! But she and the "thief" (Mr. Hughs) soon find the real thief and get back their paintings. Maddie became a hero!

I asked my daughter a few questions about London Art Chase - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting?

Yes.

Do you plan to read it again?

Yes.

What did you like about this book?

The mystery mixed with real life.

What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?

Nothing.

Would you recommend this book to others your age?

Yes.

What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?

8 to 12

Any other comments about this book?

No.

Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?

5 stars.

The second book in the Faithgirlz Glimmer Girls Series is A Dolphin Wish.

Again, because A Dolphin Wish is a "tween" book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review (*spoilers included*):

Mia is off to San Diego! She goes to Captain Swashbuckler's Adventure Park and finds out that someone is letting out the animals! Mia doesn't want anything to happen to the dolphins, so she buries herself into the mystery, wanting to be a hero like Maddie. Lulu, the greatest fit-thrower ever and never afraid to stand up for herself or her sisters, (and always speaks her mind), is a great help to Mia and she soon solves the mystery after the third trip to the theme park! Mia is now a hero like Maddie! Now it's Lulu's turn!

I asked my daughter a few questions about A Dolphin Wish - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting?

Yes.

Do you plan to read it again?

Yes.

What did you like about this book?

Everything.

What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?

Nothing at ALL.

Would you recommend this book to others your age?

Yes.

What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?

8 to 12

Any other comments about this book?

I love it. I like it better than the last one (London Art Chase).

Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?

5 stars.

The Glimmer Girls series by Natalie Grant is a great option for tween readers, and I know my daughter is looking forward to the third book in the series (The Miracle in Music City) being released later in 2016.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: Without a Trace (Faithgirlz Samantha Sanderson Series) by Robin Caroll

Without a Trace by Robin Caroll is the fourth book in the Samantha Sanderson series.

(There are three previously available titles in the series: At The Movies, On The Scene, and Off The Record.)

Samantha (Sam) Sanderson is the daughter of a journalist and a police officer. Sam wants to be a journalist like her mom and is off to a good start because she is on the staff of the school newspaper. In each book in the series, some sort of mystery arises and she tries to solve it with the help of her best friend, Makayla. (Her dad is usually involved in some way, too.) Sam likes to write articles for the school newspaper about the mystery at hand.

Because Without a Trace is a "tween" book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review (*spoilers included*):

"Sam" Sanderson is at it again, this time searching for a boy named Tam Lee. The police think he ran away, but Sam doesn't. The police get more and more worried because Tam has been gone for 3 days. Sam soon finds that Tam was doing a report on missing kids, and deduces that Tam was trying to prove that the first 3 hours are most important when a child goes missing. Sam gathers more and more information and helps her father with the case. Suddenly, Tam's parents get a call from Tam, and Sam quickly goes to investigate. They soon find Tam is in a panic room, where he had hidden, but then got trapped in.

I asked my daughter a few questions about Without a Trace - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting? 

Yes.

Do you plan to read it again?

Yes.

What did you like about this book?

The mystery.

What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?

It was kind of scary for me.

Would you recommend this book to others your age?

Yes.

What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?
Probably 8 to 12.

Any other comments about this book?

No.

Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?

5 stars.

My daughter has enjoyed the Samantha Sanderson series, and the book Without a Trace is another good choice for your tween reader. 

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: Best Hair Book Ever! by the editors of Faithgirlz! and Girls' Life magazine

Best Hair Book Ever! is a fun reference book for a tween/teen girl in your life. It is filled with lots of cute hairstyles (and a variety of hair tips and tricks) - and something in it is sure to work for everyone. 

Best Hair Book Ever! is styled like a magazine and has eight sections:

- Your Best Hair

- The Cutest Cut

- School Hair

- Summer Hair

- Sporty Hair

- Weekend Hair

- Party Hair

- Braids

Although the claim as the "best ever" hair book may be a little stretch, it really is a great resource! The photographs in this book are fantastic (more magazine style than a "how-to" book style). Each hairstyle does have written out instructions, but the majority do not have step-by-step photos. I would have loved to have seen some diagrams or step-by-step pictures. (There are only step-by-step pictures on the blowout page and in the "Braids" section.)

This is one of those books that disappeared into my daughter's room as soon as it came in the house. She has enjoyed looking at it and getting some tips and ideas, but she says that many of the styles are too difficult to get looking like the picture (especially without an additional pair of hands) and some styles need a specific hair type to be able to pull them off. She has found many of the hairstyles easier to do on other people than on herself. One thing we also found surprising was that of the four hairstyles shown on the front cover, only one seems to really be addressed inside the book. She really wanted to know how to reproduce the look on the upper right, but it is not in the book.

All that said, Best Hair Book Ever! has been fun to look at and has inspired some new hairstyles for my 12 year old. It is something I think most girls would enjoy looking through.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Reviews :: Samantha Sanderson Series by Faithgirlz! - At The Movies, On The Scene, and Off The Record by Robin Caroll

The Samantha Sanderson series is written by Robin Caroll and currently has three available titles: At The Movies, On The Scene, and Off The Record. There is a fourth novel slated to release in February of 2016: Without a Trace.

Samantha (Sam) Sanderson is the daughter of a journalist and a police officer. Sam wants to be a journalist like her mom and is off to a good start because she is on the staff of the middle school newspaper. In each book in the series, some sort of mystery arises and she tries to solve it with the help of her best friend, Makayla. (Her dad is usually involved in some way, too.) Sam likes to write articles for the school newspaper about the mystery at hand.

In At The Movies, someone has planted a bomb at the local movie theater and Sam's dad is on the case...but so is Sam.

I asked my 11 year old daughter about this book and she thought it was interesting and she enjoyed the mystery. Of the three current books, At The Movies is not her favorite, but still she has read it multiple times. She says that at times it can be hard to follow along with the story, but that doesn't stop her from reading it and recommending it to others her age. 

In On The Scene, someone is playing tricks on on of Sam's friends and Sam is determined to help her figure out who the culprit is. 

I asked my 11 year old daughter about this book and she thought it was interesting and she enjoyed the mystery. She enjoyed reading On The Scene and has read it multiple times. She says that at times it can be hard to follow along with the story, but that doesn't stop her from reading it and recommending it to others her age. 

In Off The Record, a virus has been planted in the school's grading system and Samantha and her friend Makayla (who is great with computers) are trying to get to the bottom of it. 

I asked my 11 year old daughter about this book and she thought it was interesting and she enjoyed the mystery. She enjoyed reading Off The Record and has read it multiple times - it is her favorite in the series. She highly recommends it to others her age. 

I know for sure my daughter is excited to read the new Samantha Sanderson book, Without a Trace, when it is released in early 2016.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Reviews :: Andi Unexpected, Andi Under Pressure, and Andi Unstoppable by Amanda Flower

Andi Unexpected is the first in the series of Andi Boggs novels. (Hardcover, 215 pages.)

In Andi Unexpected, we meet Andi (Andora) Boggs who is now living with her aunt after the death of her parents. Andi discovers a trunk in her attic that leads her and her friend, Colin Carter, to begin investigating a town and family secret. I won't spoil anything here in my review, but things get interesting. 

My daughter (age 11) enjoyed reading Andi Unexpected. She has already re-read it multiple times. When I asked her what she liked about the book, she said, "the mystery". She did say that it may be difficult to follow at times, but in general she would recommend it to both boys and girls in the 8-12 age range. 

Andi Under Pressure is the second in the series of Andi Boggs novels. (Hardcover, 174 pages.)

In Andi Under Pressure, we meet up again with Andi and her friend, Colin Carter, as they go to Discovery Camp...where things start going missing. Andi and Colin are back to investigating again. (So I don't spoil anything, I'll just stop there.)

My daughter (age 11) really enjoyed reading Andi Under Pressure (even more than she liked Andi Unexpected). She has already re-read it multiple times. When I asked her what she liked about the book, she said, "the adventure". She said she would recommend it to both boys and girls in the 8-12 age range. 

Andi Unstoppable is the third in the series of Andi Boggs novels. (Hardcover, 171 pages.)

In Andi Unstoppable, again Andi and her friend, Colin Carter, find themselves in the middle of a local mystery. It's another investigation for Andi and Colin. (I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just stop there.)

Unlike Andi Unexpected and Andi Under Pressure, my daughter (age 11) did not care for Andi Unstoppable. She felt that unlike the previous two books, the clues weren't scattered throughout the story but rather everything was revealed at the very end, which she didn't care for. 

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: A Plague of Unicorns by Jane Yolen

A Plague of Unicorns is a new book from New York Times bestselling author Jane Yolen. Jane Yolen has authored more than 350 books and has been the winner of several literary awards. A Plague of Unicorns is based on the author's short story "An Infestation of Unicorns" (published in her book Here There Be Unicorns).

A Plague of Unicorns is a hardcover book with a dust jacket (the dust jacket is printed with the cover image you see in the preview - the hardcover is solid olive green with a tan spine and green foiled lettering). The text is large and there are some illustrations throughout the book. (There seem to be more illustrations in the earlier chapters than there are in the later chapters.)

For me, A Plague of Unicorns was difficult to get into...and although it did pick up a bit around chapter 4, it remained a book that was just not particularly appealing to me. The chapters are relatively short, and seem to be broken up into snippets of a story rather than a continuous flow. (For example: chapter 7 has 8 marked sections in approximately 12 pages of text.) I wish A Plague of Unicorns had a glossary of terms, as there were a variety of uncommon words used without good contextual clues. (A few examples: abbot/abbey, bestiaries, pleurisy, oblate, etc.) As far as I was concerned, there was no real "action" in the story until around the last quarter of the book. That is not to say that I feel like all books should be action-packed, but the first 3/4 of A Plague of Unicorns felt rather dull and unappealing.

I was excited to have a chance to review A Plague of Unicorns and was hopeful that my kids would enjoy it as well, but my daughter (who often reads hundreds of pages in books per week) picked this book up and returned it shortly thereafter, unfinished. My son still intends to try it...time will tell what he thinks of it.

Obviously, with over 350 books and a variety of awards under her belt, Jane Yolen has a good fan base. Although A Plague of Unicorns is not a book I plan to read again, there are others out there who might enjoy it. 

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Book Review :: Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari by Jill Osborne

Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari is the third book in The Good News Shoes series (Faithgirlz!) by Jill Osborne. Riley Mae and the Swiftriver crew are back again - and this time they are headed off to Africa!

See my reviews for the first two books here:

Book #1 - Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek

Book #2 - Riley Mae and the Ready Eddy Rapids

As this is the third book in the series, I would recommend reading Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek and Riley Mae and the Ready Eddy Rapids before reading Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari so that you are able to easily follow along with the plot, but even without doing so the author does provide some short explanations for many of the points that might be confusing to someone who had only started with this book.

I have been looking forward to reading Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari since I finished the first two books a few months ago - but I had to try and hide it from my 10 year old daughter so she wouldn't read it before I could read and review it. :o)

Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari follows Riley Mae and the Swiftriver crew and their experiences in Africa. Riley Mae turns 13 in this book, and along with that is a little more talk about boys/relationships than I remember in the previous books, but it was not overwhelming. I appreciated that in this book, Riley Mae is looking toward her calling in life - in my opinion it could be a great spark to get readers thinking about what God may call them to do with their life. There are also topics in this book that get readers to think about what is affecting others in the world (such as education, safety, and clean water issues) - I was glad to see the author include these subjects. Even though the topics in Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari are a bit deeper than the previous books, there is no lack of fun and adventure. 

I've enjoyed the previous Riley Mae books and Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari is no different. My 10 year old daughter enjoys them all, too. I recommend them all.

And here is what my daughter had to say: "Do you know when the next one comes out? I hope there is going to be another one! I really liked it. I think I like Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari better than the other books. I think it's really cool that Riley Mae gets to go to Africa. I like how it kind of teaches you about Africa. I think other kids will like to read it, too." 

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.