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READ IT AND REAP
Book Reviews and Recommendations

WHAT I'M READING NOW
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
C. S. Lewis
To Capture His Heart
Nancy Campbell Allen
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(SPOILERS) The Battle for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice #4) by John Flanagan
Book Synopsis: For Will and Evanlyn, freedom has never felt so fleeing. Still far from their homeland after escaping slavery in the icebound land of Skandia, the Ranger's apprentice and the princess's plan to return to Araluen is spoiled when Evanlyn is taken captive by a Temujai warrior. Though still weakened by the warmweed's toxic effects, Will employs his Ranger training to locate his friend, but an enemy scouting party has him fatally outnumbered. Will is certain death i
Lyra Thompson
Feb 43 min read


A Kingdom of Shadows by Emily Bain Murphy
Book Synopsis: The shadows have been overtaking the light, ever since The Great Betrayal. Now, the sun shines increasingly dimmer, it takes more firewood to brighten a room, and the world is growing more desperate and dangerous by the day. Twelve-year-old orphan Finn survives in this world by being a thief, along with his best friend Adrion and younger sister Lydia. When the three meet a mysterious stranger who claims to know of a lake of light, they set off on an adventure a
Lyra Thompson
Feb 33 min read


The Icebound Land (Ranger's Apprentice #3) by John Flanagan
Book Synopsis: Kidnapped after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captives aboard a fearsome wolfship. Halt has sworn to rescue Will, and he will do anything to keep his promise–even defy his King. Expelled from the Rangers he has served so loyally, Halt is joined by Will's friend Horace as he travels toward Skandia. On their way, they are challenged constantly by freelance knights–but Horace knows a thing or two about combat. Soo
Lyra Thompson
Jan 43 min read


The Burning Bridge (Ranger's Apprentice #2) by John Flanagan - Review
Book Synopsis: Bracing for a final clash with the evil warlord Morgarath, the Rangers rally the kingdom's allies, and Will is chosen, along with his friend Horace, as special envoys to nearby Celtica. But the simple mission soon takes an unsettling turn - the Celticans have disappeared, their town abandoned. The scheming hand of Morgarath, it seems, has been far from idle. He has found a way to bring his legions over the once impassible eastern mountains and is planning to am
Lyra Thompson
Dec 10, 20252 min read


(SPOILERS) The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1) by John Flanagan - Review
Book Synopsis: They have always scared him in the past — the Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battle
Lyra Thompson
Nov 24, 20253 min read


Ground Zero by Alan Gratz - Review
Book Synopsis: It's September 11, 2001. Brandon, a 9-year-old boy, goes to work for the day with his dad . . . at the World Trade Center in New York City. When two planes hit the towers, Brandon and his father are trapped inside a fiery nightmare as terror and confusion swirl around them. Can they escape -- and what will the world be like when they do? In present-day Afghanistan, Reshmina is an 11-year-old girl who is used to growing up in the shadow of war, but she has dream
Lyra Thompson
Oct 16, 20253 min read


Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper — Review
Book Synopsis: Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail...
Lyra Thompson
Aug 4, 20253 min read
The False Prince (Ascendance #1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen - Review
Book Synopsis: In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a...
Lyra Thompson
Apr 9, 20253 min read
Summerlost by Ally Condie - Review
Book Synopsis: It's the first real summer since the devastating accident that killed Cedar's father and younger brother, Ben. But now...
Lyra Thompson
Nov 20, 20242 min read
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart - Review
Book Synopsis: Nine-year-old Nicholas Benedict has more problems than most children his age. Not only is he an orphan with an unfortunate...
Lyra Thompson
Jul 25, 20243 min read
(SPOILERS) The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages by Trenton Lee Stewart - Review
Book Synopsis: Some time has passed since the inimitable quartet of Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance have had a mission together. But...
Lyra Thompson
Jun 12, 20243 min read
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Book Synopsis: During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie...
Lyra Thompson
May 8, 20243 min read
Braced by Alyson Gerber - Review
Book Synopsis: Rachel Brooks is excited for the new school year. She's finally earned a place as a forward on her soccer team. Her best...
Lyra Thompson
Mar 1, 20243 min read
The People of Sparks (Book of Ember #2) by Jeanne DuPrau - Review
Book Synopsis: The sequel to the critically acclaimed The City of Ember continues the story of Lina and Doon, who have emerged from the...
Lyra Thompson
Jan 19, 20243 min read
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan - Review
Book Synopsis: Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting...
Lyra Thompson
Jun 13, 20232 min read
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart - Review
Book Synopsis: IF YOU FAIL, ALL IS LOST. Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance embark on a daring...
Lyra Thompson
May 2, 20233 min read
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau - Review
Book Synopsis: Many hundreds of years ago, the city of Ember was created by the Builders to contain everything needed for human survival....
Lyra Thompson
Sep 22, 20223 min read
A Dog's Promise by W. Bruce Cameron - Review
Book Synopsis: A Dog's Promise continues the story of Bailey, the good dog whose journey started in A Dog's Purpose and continued in A...
Lyra Thompson
Aug 12, 20223 min read
The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart - Review
Book Synopsis: Children You must not come STOP Dangerous The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission: to go on a...
Lyra Thompson
Dec 11, 20212 min read
One For the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt - Review (SPOILERS)
Book Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Carley Connors can take a lot. Growing up in Las Vegas with her fun-loving mother, she's learned to be...
Lyra Thompson
Aug 4, 20213 min read
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