The Ghost of the Grand Canyon (Real Kids, Real Places) Review

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(More customer reviews)Kids really enjoy all of Carole Marsh's books. Beware of factual inaccuracies, though. They run throughout her book series. In this particular book, the kids get off the plane in Flagstaff, AZ to find the air temp at 110 degrees. Welcome to the desert. The only problem is that Flagstaff is at around 7,000' elevation and even in July (the hottest month) the average high temperature is 81 degrees. In fact the hottest temperature ever recorded in Flagstaff is only 97 degrees. So while these books are fun and at the same time somewhat informative, I have found many instances in Ms. Marsh's books where she does not have all her facts straight.
I contacted Ms. Marsh after some of my 4th grade students read her books and found some mistakes. Here is part of her secretary's response: "The one thing that you might want to remind the students, is that the book is a fiction book" Therefore I would be wary of trusting anything presented as factual in her writing.

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Brighty: Of the Grand Canyon (Marguerite Henry Horseshoe Library) Review

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(More customer reviews)My father and grand parents started the Wylie Way camp at the North Rim in 1916. The Summer of 1918 was when Brighty became their water carrier and my father and Brighty made several trips a day to a water source 200ft. below the rim. The camp was about 100yds North West from the current Grand Canyon Lodge and held up to 100 people per night at it's capacity. My Grandmother did all of the accounting and was basically in charge of the people and the kitchen, including the ordering of food, cooking and purchases from Z.C.M.I. It was a pioneering effort, to say the least. Dad's encounters with Brighty have become synonymous with early life at the North Rim. Grandfather wrote an article on Brighty for Sunset Magazine and Marguerite Henry based her book on this article. The book is fiction but has some true things such as Brighty crossing the Bridge first and being independant. I'm not sure if Brighty actually was used by Roosevelt but another Burro was used and his name was Ted. Dad used Ted his first summer at the camp. Ted was stubborn so the following summer Brighty was given them by Uncle Jim Owen who had used Brighty off and on in his cougar hunting adventures. Owen was a resident expert who worked for the government culling the cougar population and raising cattle and buffalo. Thanks. M. Krueger

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Cracker's Mule Review

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(More customer reviews)Cracker's Mule is an enjoyable read for all ages. It illicits a wide range of emotional responses from tears to rib-splitting laughter. Cracker's Mule provides a look at the time when life was simpler, when relationships were built with time and care, when life was more closely tied to the land, and when kids did not get "bored" with summer.

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During the polio scare of the 1950s, a boy's parents send him for the summer from his small-town Florida home to the refuge of his grandparents' farm in rural Alabama. He settles into country life with Papa and Bigmother. The locals nickname him Cracker, after the term for Florida cowboys. One day he and Papa go to a livestock auction and Papa lets him buy a small mule. The mule turns out to be blind and Cracker must suffer ridicule while caring for the animal he comes to love. Over the summer Cracker teaches the mule to respond to his voice and together they learn to plow. The summer passes with lazy days of fishing in the local creek mixed with frightening episodes involving poisonous snakes. In this idyllic setting, Cracker makes the transition from boy to young man.

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Forbidden Sea Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of the books I heard about once, thought it sounded good, and was a little too excited to read it when I got it. I have always loved mermaids and this book quenched my thirst I had been having for a little mermaid magic.
First of all, I want to talk about the setting. It was so amazing. A breathtaking island set in... I could never figure out that part. It lets your imagination go wild on which time period it could have taking time in. I'm thinking 1700's, but could be totally off. The other setting... I'll just let you read and figure out the magic of that place!
The characters are what make this book so great. I loved each and every one of them. And their complexity was such a relief, something you don't get a lot of in YA or MG. I actually liked the main character! And her family and friends were believable also. The mermaids... you need to read more to find out about them!
Something that really stood out was the writing. This book is written is a style that can only be described one way, musically. Maybe it is the setting and story, but if feels like someone is singing the story to you. For a debut author, Sheila A Nielson shows such hope that it is a big surprise.
Could I have loved the plot anymore? Yes. But only because I wish there had been more mermaid. But the way the story is written and developed, you don't even need any! Because there are so many other great things that make you want to read more.
One of my favorite books to date, I am so incredibly lucky to have found this book. I really suggest that you all check this book out. Whether you are a middle grade lover or a hardcore YA fan, The Forbidden Sea will make you splash with delight.

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