“Down the Yukon,” by Will Hobbs
Warning: This book is a sequel to “Jason’s Gold.”
“Down the Yukon,” by Will Hobbs continues the Yukon experiences of Jason Hawthorn.
Jason is happy to have merely made it to the Yukon alive, and
although he didn’t strike it rich, he at least has his brothers and their successful family business to support them. However, disaster strikes when Jason’s older brother gets involved with gambling and loses their sawmill in a game of chance. There is only one way to buy the sawmill back: by winning the upcoming race from Dawson City to Nome, 1700 miles away.
Jason and Jamie Dunavant, the girl he loves, set off on a race that will take them through the beauty and the danger of the upper Yukon. With two dangerous rivals and numerous disasters, Jason and Jamie must struggle hard to make it to the finish line at all, much less in first place.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Down the Yukon.” Jason and Jamie are memorable characters whose adventures will not disappoint any reader who is looking for excitement. Will Hobb’s story is admirable both for its style and its historical theme.
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External Links:
The official Will Hobbs Website
Read an excerpt from Google Books
“North” by Alan Zweibel
“North” by Alan Zweibel is a novel with a great cover but disappointing content.
The main character is young North, a kid who’s qualities should make anyone appreciate him. But his parents never notice his good grades, great batting average, etc. North feels that his parents don’t deserve him, so he goes to court and wins “free agency.” North then embarks on a ridiculous search for the “perfect” parents.
“North” does not offer a quality reading experience. It’s has an exaggerated quality that gives it the feeling of a cheap movie, and the book’s plot is lacking in both substance and delivery. If you want to read something that is interesting and worthwhile, then “North” is not the book for you.
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Used copies of “North” are available through Barnes and Noble.com
“A Day No Pigs Would Die,” by Robert Newton Peck
“A Day No Pigs Would Die,” by Robert Newton Peck is a moving coming-of-age story, based on Peck’s own life.
At the surface, the novel is merely the story of a young Shaker boy and his pet pig, but Peck’s unique voice gives the novel poignant charm and emotional power. The Shaker wisdom, quiet humor, and deep personalities found in the book mesh together precisely, drawing the reader in so that he or she can understand the feelings and thoughts of the characters.
The four lines of poetry at the beginning of the text wonderfully summarize the entire point of the story:
A farmer’s heart is rabbit soft,
And farmer eyes are blue.
But farmers’ eyes are eagle fierce
And look a man right through.
“A Day No Pigs Would Die,” is also one of the saddest books I have ever read. Peck’s novel is no happy-ending fairytale, but a realistic story whose touching ending is not easily forgotten.
If you haven‘t yet read “A Day No Pigs Would Die,” then you’re missing a classic story that you simply must read.
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External Links:
Read an excerpt from “A Day No Pigs Would Die” at Barnes and Noble.com
Information about “A Day No Pigs Would Die” at Wikipedia.org
“Pieces of Georgia,” by Jen Bryant
“Pieces of Georgia,” by Jen Bryant is a unique journal style novel written in the voice of a thirteen year old girl.
Georgia McCoy is an aspiring artist, striving to follow in the
footsteps of her mother, who died six years ago of pneumonia. Although Georgia is very good at art she struggles in the other subjects at school, and her shy personality gives her an outcast status among the other kids at school.
When the high school counselor gives Georgia a blank journal, and encourages her to write in it every day, she has no idea what to fill it with. But then an anonymous person sends her a gift membership to the local Brandywine Art Museum. Through studying the works of art there Georgia comes to learn more about art, and gradually, more about herself as well.
“Pieces of Georgia” has a writing style that makes it truly unique. The lines of text in the book are broken into a lyrical, prose poetry style that well suits the voice of its shy and lonely character. Bryant also does an excellent job of capturing human characteristics and emotions. I really enjoyed reading “Pieces of Georgia” and I would recommend it as a meaningful and powerful book for your own reading enjoyment.
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External Links:
Read an excerpt from “Pieces of Georgia.” Barnes and Noble.com
Teachers resources for “Pieces of Georgia” RandomHouse.com
Two Write Hands (and two left feet)
“Two Write Hands (and two left feet)” is a pleasant, writing oriented site that features short flash fiction pieces and general commentary on the author’s life.
Overall, the site has a great theme and interesting comment. I have enjoyed reading the excellent pieces that are periodically posted on Two Write Hands, but its sometimes difficult to navigate the site. Since there isn’t a tag list on the main page I found myself forced to search through posts by date. But there were plenty of shining jewels among the posts to keep my interest. For example, I’ve selected a two of my favorites:
Two Write Hands has a clean, easy to read theme, and a great logo picture at the top of blog. The blog content is not overshadowed by voluminous amounts of advertising either, and that is something I always appreciate.
I would recommend Two Write Hands to anyone interested in writing.
Statistics (As of 4/24/2008)
Ad Count: 7
Load Time: About 5 seconds
Blog Age: 8 years
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“Jason‘s Gold,” by Will Hobbs
“Jason‘s Gold,” by Will Hobbs is the first of two books about Jason Hawthorn’s adventures in the Yukon.
The story is set in 1897. Gold has just been discovered in Alaska, and Jason Hawthorn is eager to get in on the gold rush. However, he soon finds that getting to the goldfields isn’t as easy as he had first thought. Since he has no money he stows away on a ship bound for the Yukon, but the journey involves more than riding a boat. Jason must hike the legendary trails that the Yukon gold rush made famous. Author Will Hobbs shows us Dead Horse Trail and Chilkoot Pass, from the ground up.
There is no end of excitement and adventure in “Jason‘s Gold.” I would recommend this book both as a historical masterpiece, and as a wonderful adventure. The story is well-researched, the characters memorable, and the action non-stop.
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External Links:
Read an online excerpt from “Jason’s Gold” from Barnes and Noble
“Ali and the Golden Eagle,” by Wayne Grover
“Ali and the Golden Eagle,” by Wayne Grover is an interesting novel based on the authors real life experiences in the remote highlands of Saudi Arabia.
Most of the story takes place in remote village at the bottom of a massive canyon. Separated from the outside world for decades, the villagers are intrigued when the main character rappels down the cliff and visits them.
This first visit, though, leads to a friendship. The villagers show Grover their unique skill with birds of prey, which they use for hunting. Soon, Grover is involved in a plan to capture and tame the grandest bird of all: a golden eagle. After Grover gets a eagle chick, the son of the village chief, Ali, works to train it as a hunting bird.
As the eagle is trained, its power and skill expose the small village to the eyes of the outside world. “Ali and the Golden Eagle,” focus not only on the story of a small boy and a large bird, but also on the changes that occur as the villagers start to learn about modern technology and the wonders of the outside world.
All considered, “Ali and the Golden Eagle,” has an interesting plot. Grover’s writing could hardly be considered exceptional, but it can still serve as adequate entertainment.
This book is now out of print. You may still be able to find a used copy, however.
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“Stuart Little,” by E.B. White
“Stuart Little,” by E.B. White is a classic children’s tale that was first copyrighted in 1945.
The introduction to “Stuart Little” immediately captures the reader’s attention:
“When Mrs. Frederick C. Little’s second son arrived, everybody
noticed that he was not much bigger than a mouse. The truth of the matter was, the baby looked very much like a mouse in every way. He was only about two inches high; and he had a mouse’s sharp nose, and mouse’s tail, a mouse’s whiskers, and the pleasant, shy manner of a mouse. Before he was many days old he was not only looking like a mouse, but acting like one, too-wearing a gray hat and carrying a small cane.”
The story tells of Stuart’s adventures as a small mouse in a large world. Sailing a model boat, accidentally being taken out in the rubbish, working as a substitute teacher – Stuart’s life is full of experiences that make an interesting story.
The only thing that I have never like about “Stuart Little” is its ending. Unlike E.B. White’s other children’s stories, “Stuart Little” lacks a satisfying conclusion. Stuart is left forever traveling in search of a bird who was his friend.
E.B. White does an excellent job of developing Stuart in the beginning: as a carefree, studious young mouse who leads an active and interesting life style. But as the story progresses, Stuart’s character changes, until he is left as a slightly sad and morose character, wronged by the world and separated by his size.
All in all, “Stuart Little” is a book that has stood the test of time, remaining popular for over fifty years. I would recommend it as a worthy addition to any book collection.
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External Links:
Information about “Stuart Little” on Wikipedia.org
Read an e-book excerpt from “Stuart Little” at Amazon.com
Patient
Laying in this narrow hospital bed,
Staring at the ceiling for hour after hour,
Measuring the time until the next dose
Of painkiller.
Waiting in this hospital room that is both
A protection and prison I can not leave.
Hoping that soon there will be a knock,
A visitor.
Thinking about the world outside,
Where life goes on, while I wait here,
Looking out the window at a scene that
Never changes.
