“A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story” is a very heart-touching story about a young Sudanese boy having to flee his home to avoid being captured and trained to fight and kill. Linda Sue Park is the author of this classy book. This story teaches lessons of compassion and perseverance and courage. Linda Sue Park’s ”A Long Walk to Water” is an enjoyable read that makes you appreciate the comforts we enjoy in the first world. It’s based on a true story of Salva, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who fled Southern Sudan and walked to Ethiopia. The story is told in two parts. The first part takes place in 1985 when the Southern Sudanese rebels were fighting the government in the North. Salva and other young boys were in school when the war reached them. They fled their home villages to reach refugee camps in Ethiopia. They left their families behind and most never saw their family again. Later, when the refugees were driven from Ethiopia, Salva led a group of boys and walked to the camp in Kenya. The second part of the story takes place in 2008. Nya is a young girl whose job in life is to walk to fetch water all day, every day. Girls like Nya don’t go to school. Her chore day in and day out is to walk to the pond to fill her container and bring it home. After her morning trip to the pond, Nya eats, and then turns around and walks back to the pond to fill her container again. When the pond dries up, the village moves to the Lake where the water has to be reached by digging. “A Long Walk to Water” is a powerful, gritty story that grabs you and compels you to read to find out what happens to Salva and Nya. The story threads finally come together in the end. This story is highly recommended for middle-grade students, ages 10-12. This book truly brings history alive in the classroom.

“Number the Stars” is both a heartbreaking and beautiful little story of love & loss, strength & finding your way. Lois Lowry is the author of this novel. This author is a master in bringing all of the stories together and throwing in a surprise ending. The author’s style is charismatic and entertaining, even if a bit self-indulgent. The novel masterfully builds the tension until it reaches a fever pitch as the author finally begins putting the various pieces of the puzzle into place. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns in store for the foursome as the truth about the events preceding. It is an enjoyable read with constant developments between the past and the present. There are several sub-themes woven into the primary setting of the novel. It is a great story with an imaginative plot, believable characters and most of all heart and wisdom. It is truly a gem of a book. It shows that love is timeless. It will make your heart want to explode. This story is beautiful, magical and it’s a wonderful experience. In short, it is one of the best novels of all time that touch the soul of readers with powerful words.

“Gregor the Overlander” is both a heartbreaking and beautiful little story of love & loss, strength & finding your way.  Suzanne Collins is the author of this novel. This author is a master in bringing all of the stories together and throwing in a surprise ending. The author’s style is charismatic and entertaining, even if a bit self-indulgent. The novel masterfully builds the tension until it reaches a fever pitch as the author finally begins putting the various pieces of the puzzle into place. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns in store for the foursome as the truth about the events preceding. It is an enjoyable read with constant developments between the past and the present. There are several sub-themes woven into the primary setting of the novel. It is a great story with an imaginative plot, believable characters and most of all heart and wisdom. It is truly a gem of a book. It shows that love is timeless. It will make your heart want to explode. This story is beautiful, magical and it’s a wonderful experience. In short, it is one of the best novels of all time that touch the soul of readers with powerful words.

“Rodrick Rules” is a story of love, loss, heartbreak, and unbreakable bonds. This novel is written by Jeff Kinney.  This is a gorgeous story about how life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to, but if we’re willing, we can still make it a great life. It is a good compelling story, engaging, and easy to read. This is the perfect holiday novel, you can pick it up and get straight back into the story. The novel “Rodrick Rules” is an enjoyable story that moves along at a good pace. It is not too quickly, but at a pace that keeps the reader engaged waiting to discover the outcome. It has a satisfactory ending which is a little predictable but ties up all the loose ends. Some of the male characters are a little too good to be true but that doesn’t spoil any part of the story. The author switches between the two time periods effortlessly and easily which doesn’t always happen in these kinds of books. Each storyline had a richness that was only strengthened by the comparison and contrast to the other.

“The throne of fire” is a story of love, loss, heartbreak, and unbreakable bonds. This novel is written by Rick Riordan.  This is a gorgeous story about how life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to, but if we’re willing, we can still make it a great life. It is a good compelling story, engaging, and easy to read. This is the perfect holiday novel, you can pick it up and get straight back into the story. The novel “The throne of fire” is an enjoyable story that moves along at a good pace. It is not too quickly, but at a pace that keeps the reader engaged waiting to discover the outcome. It has a satisfactory ending which is a little predictable but ties up all the loose ends. Some of the male characters are a little too good to be true but that doesn’t spoil any part of the story. The author switches between the two time periods effortlessly and easily which doesn’t always happen in these kinds of books. Each storyline had a richness that was only strengthened by the comparison and contrast to the other.

“The Red Pyramid” is a story of love, loss, heartbreak, and unbreakable bonds. This novel is written by Rick Riordan.  This is a gorgeous story about how life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to, but if we’re willing, we can still make it a great life. It is a good compelling story, engaging, and easy to read. This is the perfect holiday novel, you can pick it up and get straight back into the story. The novel “The Red Pyramid” is an enjoyable story that moves along at a good pace.