Author Archives: Simon H.

The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

Posted on by
1

The Cat Who Went to Heaven is a Newbery Award-winning book by Elizabeth Coatsworth. The story is about a poor young Japanese artist. The artist sends out his housekeeper with some money to buy him food. When she returns with a cat instead of food, the artist is astonished and furious. However, he realizes that the cat is three-colored, which is considered good luck in Japan. The artist decides to keep the cat, and he names it “Good Fortune.” He soon becomes very fond of his new cat.

One day, the head priest of a nearby Buddhist temple pays an unexpected visit to the artist. The priests of the temple would like the artist to create a painting depicting Buddha’s death. They promise a large sum of money to the artist if his painting is successful. The artist is overjoyed by the offer, and he gets to work on the painting.

As the painting develops, the artist depicts various animals surrounding Buddha. The artist’s cat, Good Fortune, occasionally enters the room to watch the artist work. As the painting nears completion, it becomes apparent to the artist that Good Fortune would like a cat to be depicted in the painting. The artist hesitates to include a cat in the painting because it might anger the priests. He must decide whether to please Good Fortune at the risk of losing his commission for the painting.

I found this story to be charming and engaging, and it was fascinating to learn about the Buddhist religion and ancient Japanese folklore. The story is quite short, and I was surprised that such a small book would be considered for the Newberry Award. However, after reading this book I believe the award is well-deserved. I would recommend this book to beginning and advanced readers alike.

The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Posted on by
1

The BFG is one of Roald Dahl’s most well-known books.  The story focuses on Sophie, an orphan who is captured by a giant and carried off to his cave.  Unlike most giants, this giant does not eat humans.  He is called the “Big Friendly Giant,” or the BFG.  Because he is not like other giants, the giants who live nearby have a strong disliking of him.  Still, the BFG behaves like other giants in some ways.  For example, he struggles with grammar.  He often mixes up words and phrases, such as “is I right or left” instead of “am I right or wrong,” or “human beans” instead of “human beings.”  I was amused by the BFG’s manner of speech.  He has many funny sayings in this book.

When Sophie learns that the evil giants are all going to London to eat some more “human beans,” including children, she decides that they must be stopped.  It turns out that the BFG is willing to help Sophie.  Together, they create a plan to make sure that the wicked giants never eat humans again.

I enjoyed many of the characters in this book.  It would be difficult to pinpoint a favorite, but if I had to choose one, I think it would be the BFG himself.  While he is not exactly the most articulate character in the book, he has a good heart and is actually very clever.  One of my favorite things about Roald Dahl’s stories are the unique words he creates.  “Scrumdiddlyumptious,” “swogswalloped,” and “bungswoggling” are just a few examples.  The language of this book is especially amusing when read aloud. 

I am extremely fond of this book.  When I read it the first time, I enjoyed it so much that I read it in one day.  For good reason, this is one of Roald Dahl’s most famous and popular books.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys Dahl’s books.

The BFG by Roald Dahl is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Posted on by
1

James and the Giant Peach is one of Roald Dahl’s most popular books.  The story is about a boy named James Henry Trotter, who is sent to live with his two horrible aunts after his parents had been killed by a zoo animal.  Life is miserable for James until an old man comes along and gives him a bag full of small crystals.  The man claims that the crystals contain more power and magic “than in all the rest of the world put together.”  Unfortunately, James accidentally drops the crystals on the ground under a peach tree and loses them.  To his surprise, a peach on the tree soon grows to an unnatural size.  The giant peach ends up as big as a house.

One night, James decides to sneak out of the house to inspect the monstrous peach.  Getting closer, he notices a hole on the side of the peach.  He crawls into the hole and through a tunnel until he reaches the pit.  The pit of the giant peach has a door cut into it.  James pushes it open and crawls inside.  To his surprise, seven oversized bugs are living inside the pit.  James is frightened at first, but he quickly grows accustomed to the strange creatures.  One of the giant bugs cuts the stem of the peach.  The peach rolls away with everyone inside.  James and his new friends set off on an exciting journey.

I like the character of James in this book, but to be honest, I like the bugs even more.  I especially like Centipede, Old-Green-Grasshopper, and Earthworm.  I think Earthworm is my favorite character of all.  Even though he often seems gloomy and pessimistic, he is very entertaining as he quarrels with the other bugs.  He usually fights with Centipede.  The interactions between the bugs are very amusing.

I have loved reading Roald Dahl’s books since I was very young.  This is one of the first books by the author that I read, so I still feel nostalgic about it.  I have ready many other Roald Dahl books, but this is still one of my favorites.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone, especially if they have not had a chance to read one of Roald Dahl’s books yet.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

Posted on by
1

Prince Caspian, by C.S. Lewis, is part of his Chronicles of Narnia series.  This was the second book published, but it would be the fourth book chronologically.  This sequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is about the four Pevensie children: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy.  The children are waiting for a train so that they can return to boarding school, when suddenly they are teleported to the enchanted land of Narnia.  The Pevensie children had lived in Narnia before as king and queens, until they were returned to their native country of England.  The world of Narnia is ruled by Aslan, the great lion.  There are other kings and queens in Narnia, but Aslan rules over them all.

After wandering for a while in Narnia, the Pevensies discover a ruined castle.  They are dismayed to learn that the ruins are what remains of Cair Paravel, the castle from which they had ruled in the distant past.  A little while later, they rescue a dwarf named Trumpkin.  The dwarf explains to the children why they had been brought back to Narnia.  The world is under siege by the evil King Miraz and his army of Telmarine soldiers.  The children had been summoned by the rightful king, King Caspian the Tenth, to help defeat Miraz and reclaim the throne.

My favorite character throughout the series is Aslan, but this book features another of my favorite characters: Reepicheep the mouse.  Reepicheep is the leader of a small army of mice.  One of my favorite things about Reepicheep is his unwavering courage, despite his small stature.  There are also many exciting adventures throughout this story.  The rescue of Trumpkin, the betrayal of Nikabrik the dwarf, and the final battle against King Miraz are just a few of the highlights.

I enjoyed this book very much.  It is filled with suspense, action and adventure.  Just like the other books in the series, this story is highly symbolic and teaches many meaningful lessons.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, along with the rest of The Chronicles of Narnia.

Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo

Posted on by
1

The Secret Kingdom,by Jenny Nimmo, is the first book in the Chronicles of The Red King trilogy.  The books in this trilogy are prequels to the Children of the Red King series.  The stories take place in a time when the Red King was a young boy named Timoken.  This story revolves around Timoken and his older sister Zobayda, two children who have been orphaned and forced out of their home.

The children embark on a treacherous journey through a vast desert to find a new home.  They are aided by various fantastical creatures, including a flying being called a “forest-jinni,” a trio of magical leopards, and a talking camel named Gabar.  The children are endowed with magical powers.  They rely on these powers to defend themselves against enemies, including evil beings called “viridees.”

There are many likeable characters in this book, so it would be very difficult to pick a favorite.  Timoken, his sister Zobayda, Gabar, and even the viridees are some of my favorites.  The story is filled with action and excitement.  One of my favorite parts of the book is when a flock of terrible birds wreaks havoc in the city of Toledo.  Timoken uses his magical powers to stop them.

I was excited to learn that Jenny Nimmo wrote this new series of books.  After the success of her Children of the Red King series, Jenny Nimmo decided to write more about the history of the mysterious Red King.  This new trilogy is just as enjoyable as the original series.  I would very highly recommend this book, and the rest of the trilogy, to anyone who enjoyed the Children of the Red King saga.

The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Onion John by Joseph Krumgold

Posted on by
Reply

Onion John is a Newberry award-winning book by Joseph Krumgold.  The main character of the story is a boy named Andy Rusch, who lives in Serenity, New Jersey.  Andy feels that his father is too controlling of his life.  A strange man named Onion John becomes Andy’s friend.  Onion John is very unusual.  He eats onions as if they were apples, and his language is difficult to understand.  He also has strange beliefs and lives in an old-fashioned hut.  Andy’s father becomes worried about Onion John’s influence on Andy.  Because of these concerns, Andy’s father tries to control Onion John’s life, but things do not go according to plan.

Andy’s father seems extremely sensible and practical.  This might seem like a negative thing at first.  Andy does not always get along with his father, but as the story progresses, Andy begins to understand his father better.  I think Andy’s father might actually be my favorite character in the book.  One of my favorite parts of the book is near the end of the story, when Andy and his father spend time alone together during a fishing trip.  They have time to talk with each other to better understand their different points of view.  I especially liked this part because it teaches valuable lessons about fatherhood.

This is very good book about the challenges of relationships between parents and their children.  I was sometimes confused about Onion John and his strange behavior.  For example, he talks about fumigating the town of Serenity with smoke from an oak tree’s fire that will rid the people of their “evil spirits.”  In a way, Onion John seemed kind of creepy to me.  However, by the end of the story, Onion John indirectly helps Andy and his father to understand each other better.  Even though Onion John is not my favorite character, and this is not my favorite book in the world, I can see why this book won the Newberry Medal.  It teaches some important lessons about parenthood and relationships, in an unusual way.

Onion John by Joseph Krumgold is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.

Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo

Posted on by
1

Charlie Bone and the Red Knight is the eighth and final book in the Children of the Red King series by Jenny Nimmo.  The main character of the series is Charlie Bone, a boy who possesses magical power.  He attends a school called Bloor’s Academy, which is a school for children with special endowments.  In this thrilling conclusion to the series, the Bloor family is searching for a lost document.  The document contains a secret so important that the Bloors will stop at nothing to find it before Charlie.  Charlie hopes to obtain the document, because it would reveal the destiny of the heirs of the Red King.

Charlie faces many conflicts in this book.  For example, he confronts a magician with a sword that has a mind of its own.  Another man secretly tries to drown Charlie’s parents.  Charlie even encounters a powerful sorcerer from the past.  Charlie and his friends must combine their powers to overcome the evil forces fighting against them.  This leads to many exciting episodes, including an attempt to retrieve a powerful mirror from Charlie’s evil aunts, a dangerous mission to rescue one of Charlie’s friends from the past, and a huge battle between a sorcerer’s army and the Children of the Red King.

One of my favorite characters in this book is actually the Red Knight himself.  Not much is known about him at first, except that he rides a white horse and he wields an invincible sword.  However, his true identity is eventually revealed.  This became one of my favorite and most memorable scenes in the book.

Jenny Nimmo originally intended to write only five books for the Children of the Red King series, but fortunately she decided to write an additional three books.  This book is the last of the series, and a wonderful conclusion to this set of books.  This is my favorite book in the entire series, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has read any of the other books in the saga.

Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Charlie Bone and the Hidden King by Jenny Nimmo

Posted on by
2

Charlie Bone and the Hidden King is the fifth book in the Children of the Red King series by Jenny Nimmo.  At the time this book was written, it would have been the last book in the series.  However, Jenny Nimmo later decided to write more books to continue the saga.  In this book, Charlie Bone is on a mission to finally discover the identity of his father.  Throughout the series so far, Charlie Bone has wondered about his father.  Charlie had been told that his father died, but the circumstances surrounding his death were mysterious.  In this book, Charlie is determined to find out the truth about his father.

Other than the main character, Charlie Bone, my favorite characters throughout the series are Lysander Sage and Tancred Torsson.  These two characters do not disappoint in this book, either.  I really enjoyed reading about how they used their magical powers to help Charlie, and that they always remained loyal to their friends.

I also enjoyed a part in the story when another of Charlie’s friends, named Olivia, helped him to obtain a magical mirror.  After a battle against mysterious dark forces, Charlie is able to use the mirror to learn the truth about his father.

It was very satisfying to finally learn more about Charlie Bone’s father.  This book is exciting and action-packed, and I enjoyed reading it very much.  I would recommend it highly to anyone.  This book seems like a fitting conclusion to the series, even though the author went on to write more Charlie Bone books after this one.

-Simon H.

Charlie Bone and the Hidden King by Jenny Nimmo is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

Posted on by
1

The Silver Chair, by C.S. Lewis, is part of his Chronicles of Narnia series.  This was the fourth book published, but it would be the sixth book chronologically.  At the beginning of the story, two children named Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole have managed to escape from some bullies at their school.  They find a mysterious door that is usually locked, but is now unlocked for some reason.  Desperate to hide from the bullies, the children decide to enter through the door.

To their amazement, the door leads to the enchanted land of Narnia.   This world is ruled by Aslan, the great lion.  Even though there are kings and queens in Narnia, Aslan rules over them all.

Aslan has a special task for Eustace and Jill.  Prince Rilian has gone missing.  His father, King Caspian the Tenth, has no other heir to the throne.  Rilian was presumably kidnapped by the evil Queen of the Underland.  Eustace and Jill are tasked with finding Rilian and bringing him safely home.

My favorite character throughout the series is Aslan, but in this book, I was also very fond of Puddleglum, the Marsh-wiggle.  Puddleglum tends to be quite pessimistic and glum, but he is more high-spirited than most other Marsh-wiggles.  He becomes very helpful to Eustace and Jill during their quest.  One of my favorite parts in the story is when the children and Puddleglum arrive at the house of Harfang, home to a great family of giants.  They later learn that the giants are secretly planning to eat them, so they must devise a plan to escape. 

This is one of my favorite books in The Chronicles of Narnia, mostly because of Puddleglum, and also because of the wonderful action, adventure and suspense.  This book is also highly symbolic and teaches important lessons.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

-Simon H.

The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Posted on by
3

Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater, is a Newberry Honor award-winning book.  The story is about a man named Mr. Popper.  Mr. Popper is a house painter, and he does not earn much money to support his small family.  He lives in a place called Stillwater, and he has never traveled anywhere else.  However, he loves to read books about exploration to the Arctic or Antarctic regions of the world.  He is especially fascinated by the Antarctic, because he loves to read about penguins.

One day, Mr. Popper receives a pleasant surprise.  He receives a package from Antarctica.  The package contains a real penguin.  This leads to a series of events that will change Mr. Popper’s life.

The story is quite humorous and amusing.  My favorite character is Captain Cook.  Captain Cook is the name of the penguin that first arrives at Mr. Popper’s house.  The penguin is funny in the way he inspects the Poppers’ house and gets into mischief.  Mr. Popper tries to put Captain Cook on a leash to go on a walk, but this leads to all kinds of trouble.  Another problem is trying to find a place for Captain Cook to sleep.  Mr. Popper tries to keep the penguin in an ice cooler, but eventually other penguins arrive at the Poppers’ house, so they need to figure out a way to take care of lots of penguins.  They try opening all the windows to cool down the temperature, but then a blizzard passes through and the inside of the house gets covered in snow and ice.  Finally, Mr. Popper comes up with an idea to raise money to support the penguins, by training them to become stage performers.

In a way this is a silly story, but I thought it was very enjoyable.  This might actually be one of my favorite books right now.  I think it is very well written and highly entertaining.  I would recommend this book to anyone.

-Simon H.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater is available for checkout at the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.