Gabriel and the Phantom by Jenny Nimmo

Posted on by
1

Gabriel and the Phantom Sleepers is a companion novel to the Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo. This story focuses on the character of Gabriel Silk, whose family members have been the guardians of the cloak of the Red King for generations. When Gabriel’s father goes away for an alchemist convention, Gabriel becomes the caretaker of the cloak. It is said that this cloak is filled with magical power. If someone were to wear it, they would become completely invincible. Because of this, Gabriel feels an immense responsibility to protect the cloak from evildoers.

To ensure the cloak’s safety, Gabriel is sent to stay at his uncle’s house for protection. During his stay, the unthinkable happens—the Red King’s cloak is stolen. Gabriel now needs the help of his cousin, Sadie, and many of their friends to reclaim the cloak. Unfortunately for Gabriel, he is also being followed by a group of mysterious beings known as the Phantom Sleepers. Gabriel will soon find out whether these phantoms are friends or foes.

The Charlie Bone books are some of my favorites, so I was very excited when I learned that Jenny Nimmo recently wrote a couple of new books in the same universe. I had high hopes when I got my hands on this book, but it definitely surpassed my expectations. Just like Nimmo’s other books, this one is very well-written and exciting. The characters are compelling, and the story is filled with action, suspense, and magic. In my opinion, this book is even better than many of the books in the original series. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but I would suggest reading the original Children of the King series first.

Tom Clancy: Power and Empire by Marc Cameron

Posted on by
Reply

In the novel, Jack Ryan Jr., the main protagonist, is faced with many obstacles from the Chinese government, Mexican cartels, and more as the G20 summit approaches. Jack’s father, Jack Ryan Sr. (the President of the United States), will attend, so the stakes are even higher. The novel is based in the present day, in various locations, such as Texas, Washington D.C., Beijing, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo. To help Jack with the many catastrophes occurring in the plot, he has his colleagues from The Campus, a secret crime-stopping organization – Clark, Ding, Adara, Dom, Midas, Gavin, and Yuki, who they meet along the way.

Not long ago, Zhao Chengzhi was made President of China after former president Wei Zhen Lin had died. However, his modest approach to national and international events upset other individuals in the Chinese government, so a secret coup was formed by the minister of foreign affairs, Li Zhengsheng, to overthrow his power and make himself the President. This decision sparked the chain of events in the novel. Later on, Li has General Xu Jinlong, the leader of the CSB (Central Security Bureau), sabotage the Chinese cargo ship “Orion” and sink it off the northern west coast of the United States. By doing this, Li was able to make the first step in provoking the United States.

As the story goes on, different characters, including our protagonist Jack Ryan, are introduced and numerous heart-racing episodes unfold. This book is one worth reading, and can be found online or checked out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Book Review: On the Edge of Survival by Spike Walker

Posted on by
Reply

On the Edge of Survival, written by Spike Walker is a compelling story based on a real-life rescue mission on one of Alaska’s most treacherous seas. The book primarily focuses on a dangerous operation where two H-60 Jayhawk helicopters are tasked to rescue eighteen crew members of a stranded Malaysian cargo vessel during an intense storm. However, during their attempts to save the remaining members, one of the helicopters gets hit by a ferocious wave, forcing it to plummet into the freezing waters. With only a limited amount of time before the vessel completely submerges, will the rescuers be able to save them all?

Walker’s storytelling provided great portrayals of the dangers faced both by the rescuers and the people they are trying to save. Throughout this narrative, he provides various descriptions of the severe weather, the life-threatening challenges of the rescue operation, and the emotional impact of everyone involved in it. 

Overall, I found On the Edge of Survival to be quite a thrilling book to read during my spare time… although I found the majority parts of the narrative to be a bit confusing due to my unfamiliarity with the technical and mechanical details of aviation. But, despite this, I still believe that Walker effectively captured the bravery and perseverance of the rescue teams, and thoroughly carried out the message of how it ultimately led to their success. I would highly recommend this to anyone that holds deep interests in sea rescues and aviation. 

On the Edge of Survival by Spike Walker is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins BOOK REVIEW

Posted on by
Reply

Can’t Hurt Me written by David Goggins chronicles his extraordinary journey from a troubled childhood marked by the abuse by his father to becoming a highly respected U.S. Navy Seal and renowned endurance athlete. This book dives into Goggins’ struggles with self doubt, obesity, and a challenging upbringing, overall illustrating how he overcame these obstacles through sheer determination and relentless work ethic.

In this book, I really liked the emphasis Goggins puts on the power of the mind of surpassing one’s limits. This is demonstrated in the 40% percent rule as mentioned in the book which is a rule that states when you think you are at 100%, you are only at 40% of your power. This serves as a motivational benchmark for me and many other around the world. By using this rule, the potential for personal growth and surpassing one’s limits is significantly increased. The idea that mental barriers often limit one’s potential is emphasized heavily in this book and Goggins promotes the notion that the mind can be the strongest ally in achieving greatness.

Another idea that I Iiked was the idea of “pain as a teacher.” In this book, physical and emotional pain are portrayed as essential elements for growth, highlighting how discomfort can lead to self discovery and resilience. In this book, Goggins emphasizes the idea of seeing pain as a good thing and embracing it instead of seeing it as something that you should avoid at all cost. Experiencing pain means that you are getting better and growing. Getting uncomfortable is how you achieve your goals and staying comfortable is not going to get you anywhere. That is the lesson Goggins wants the reader to learn through illustrating his journey.

Overall, this book is a must read, the practical lessons that David Goggins teaches us along with his personal stories truly makes this book one of one. This book serves as a powerful testament to human potential and resilience.

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins is available to download for free from Libby.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Posted on by
Reply

Before We Were Yours focuses on a part of history that is not always mentioned: adoption scandal. This topic was new to me, but I learned a lot from this novel.

Wingate’s writing jumps between the life of a young girl, Rill Foss, in the 1950s and her struggle to keep her family together, and a successful woman in the present, Avery Stafford, who takes an interest in the Foss family history.

It delves into a time when children are taken from their homes, loving or not, and sold to wealthy families, under the supervision of Georgia Tann.

The Foss family is one of the Tennessee Children’s Home’s Society’s victims. Rill fights to keep her family together, even when she knows it is impossible. I was shocked and sad to learn that children really did endure these events.

I like the way the author develops Rill’s fierce, unrelenting personality: standing up to bullies at the children’s home, clinging to the dream of being with her parents again, and refusing to stop singing nursery songs that her mother taught her.

Seeing how quickly Rill’s younger siblings’ memories of their biological family fade is definitely the most heartbreaking part of the novel. Rill scorns her sister for showing affection to their new parents, and she is the one who cleans up the sheets when her sister wets the bed. Her dedication to ensuring that her siblings know where they come from is admirable and compelling.

Another crucial part of the story is the setting. The depressing, dark home they are brought to is the origin of their pain, betrayal, and sadness. There are some events where the Foss children are put in harm’s way and suffer in cruel living conditions, but they are necessary to shape the Rill’s strength and character.

In Avery’s life as the mayor’s daughter in the present, she is uncovering the truth about the Foss children and becoming more connected with her own past. The novel narrates her life in the public eye and the pressure to give the best answer to every interview question; digging up the past gives her new ambition and understanding.

In the end, Before We Were Yours ties all the characters together and is a powerful message of unity, hope, and healing.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Code Name Verity By: Elizabeth Wein

Posted on by
1
Code Name Verity (Anniversary Edition ...

The story begins in 1943 amid World War 2 when a British spy named Julie is captured by the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied France. Taken to an old Parisian hotel transformed into a prison for war criminals, Julie is tortured and emotionally manipulated by the leader of the Gestapo, Hauptsturmfuhrer von Linden. She is then forced to turn on the Allies by sharing information with the Germans and is given 2 weeks to write down all of the information she has or she will be executed.

Julie unfortunately doesn’t have much information to provide. During wartime, they only share the information necessary to complete their mission, so there isn’t any major breach if someone is captured. So she begins to tell the story of Maddie, a friend from before being captured. Maddie was a pilot trained by one of Britain’s only female pilots before the war began. She began working in a radar tower for an airstrip controlled by the Allies. This is where she meets Julie, and they begin a long-lasting friendship.

Maddie soon gets recruited to fly transports and ferrying planes across allied countries. This separates her and Julie for almost 2 years. They mostly communicate through letters but they occasionally get to see each other. They are united when Maddie transports Julie to Nazi-occupied France. But over the flight, they are shot at, and their engines get hit. Maddie instructs Julie to bail out on a parachute She does leaving Maddie behind on a burning plane, not knowing what happened to her.

I overall really liked this book. I thought there were very enticing twists to the storyline and I found that having female main characters was especially inspiring, due to most historical fiction novels having male main characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. As well as anyone who likes a book with a lot of twists and turns.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Prague, Czechia

Posted on by
2
Prague Old Town Square; Image from Arch Journey, https://archjourney.org/projects/old-town-square/

Prague is a vibrant city in eastern Europe that has a wide range of unique experiences and sights like no other. Recently, as a part of a trip to Europe, I spent two days exploring what this city has to offer. Known as “The Golden City” or the “Heart of Europe” to some, this city was truly a unique experience.

Prague is famously known for its Old Town district, centered around a bustling market square with local produce and other products, as well as most famously, an intricate astronomical clock tower containing an intricate timepiece distinct to the city. Installed in 1410, this clock is the subject of a local legend. It is rumored that if the clock is neglected or stops running, the city will suffer. Keeping with this legend, the centuries-old clock is remarkably well-preserved and still runs perfectly, restored most recently in 2022.

Prague is also known for its architecture in the baroque style, as evident by the Charles bridge, which I visited on my second day in Prague. This city is known for its unique classic architecture, as I witnessed when I visited Prague Castle, a massive complex of historical buildings that includes the castle itself, as well as the St. Vitus Cathedral.

Overall, visiting Prague was a unique and wonderful experience, and I would definitely recommend visiting this city in a trip to Europe. The unique architecture, culture, and atmosphere is definitely something I have never seen in the United States before. Travelling the world outside of the U.S is definitely a great way to widen one’s understanding of the unique cultures and ways of living across the globe.

Image Sources:

Left: Charles Bridge, Sergey Ashmarin, 2007, Wikimedia Commons

Right: Prague Astronomical Clock, Steve Collis, 2012, Wikimedia Commons

Books about travel to Prague are available to download for free from Libby.

My Cruise Vacation 

Posted on by
Reply

While on summer break, my family and I wanted to do something fun and exciting. After much thought, we decided we wanted to go on a cruise ship. The cruise ship we ended up going on was called the Carnival Firenze. The ship had an Italian theme, which included plenty of Italian art. The cruise ship lasted from July 21st to July 25th for a total of four days. In those four days, the cruise went to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. We were also able to explore much of the ship and experience most of its activities in those four days.

When we first stepped on board the ship we headed toward our muster station where they told us what to do in an emergency. Right after that, we went to our room which had a total of three beds, two bathrooms, and a television that had thirty-five different channels and a selection of free movies and some that you can buy. For the rest of the day, we explored the ship and did activities such as watching a show called Dear Future Husband and going on a ropes course. When I woke up the next day we were at Catalina where we just walked around and went shopping for most of the day. The next day we were in Ensenada. While in Ensenada we were on a tour that went to the second-largest blowhole in the world called La Bufadora and went to La Riviera, which is a historical place where celebrities would go to gamble. The next day was a day at sea. While at sea for the entire day, we played mini golf at the Sports Square, watched a gameshow that you could participate in called Deal or No Deal, and played a whole bunch of trivia games. On the final day, we ate breakfast at a restaurant called Michelangelo’s and then got off the ship. 

I had a ton of fun while on this cruise. They did a great job with entertaining guests. I highly recommend it for your next family vacation. I particularly liked the shows they put on such as an interactive Deal or No Deal game show and the constant trivia games, which include superheroes, movies, and music trivia, that anybody could participate in. Every worker on the ship was friendly and nice, which added to the overall enjoyment. The cruise also included a great selection of food options such as Guy’s Burger Joint and a buffet with a variety of food called the Lido Marketplace. Every meal I had didn’t disappoint since all of the food I had was very tasty and high quality even though most of it is free and included with the cruise. The two destinations we went to were also intriguing to me. Even though we didn’t do much at Catalina it was still nice to walk around and explore the island. Going on a tour in Ensenada was much fun since I learned about some history and saw many things that are new to me such as a blowhole.

In conclusion, the Carnival Firenze was a great experience and I recommend it to families who can afford it. The cruise has lots of activities to enjoy with your family. Some of these activities include going into some souvenir stores and listening to music played by many professionals for hours each day. The cruise ship even has multiple restaurants that provide free food such as a restaurant called the Medici where my family and I ate dinner every night. Once you leave the cruise you’ll be thinking about all of the memories you’ve made and you’ll miss being on the ship.

-Matthew R.

Movie Review: Coraline

Posted on by
1

The movie Coraline was written by Henry Selick, who also directed the film. The story is based on the novel by Neil Gaiman in honor of his five year old who enjoyed scary stories. This is one of my favorite movies, as it’s a stop-motion animated film, which gives it a unique and detailed visual style. The animation is super detailed and visually stunning, while the plot keeps you hooked with its eerie and imaginative twists. Its definitely a movie both kids and adults can enjoy for its strong characters and captivating storyline.

The movie follows a young girl named Coraline who discovers a parallel world that appears to be a better version of her own life, but it hides dark secrets. Coraline must use her courage to navigate through this journey and save herself and her loved ones. Additionally, the strong, and brave Coraline serves as an inspiring role model as she has the courage to fight for her loved ones, persevered through the tough battles and overcame all the challenges that came her way.

Coraline also has many conspiracy theories that add an extra layer of mystery. It invites the viewers to think more deeply about the plot and look for more hidden clues, enriching the movie-watching experience. So when you watch the movie, watch out for some of these hidden clues to apply back to the conspiracy theories.

  • The well
  • The first few seconds of movie
  • The Taffy
  • Lightning Hand
  • Framed silhouettes of the other children
  • The cat at the end

Overall, Coraline is a remarkable film that blends horror and fantasy and creates an imaginative and enjoyable movie for all ages. It always kept me on the edge of my seat and was very exciting to watch. I loved all the hidden clues; it made it even more enjoyable and allowed me to almost be involved in the movie. I would highly recommend this movie to everyone, even though it is very difficult to get ahold of.

Freak the Mighty: The Golden Gate Bridge

Posted on by
2

A short story on Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Max and Freak are walking along a new sidewalk that they discovered. The further they walked, the chillier and windier it got. Slowly, the color of the cement warped into red. The cement turned into red metal. When Max looked down, he saw cars and the ocean. There were also some jagged rocks sticking out  from the clear-yet-murky water. Around him was the red metal and chords holding up beams and a road.  The Golden Gate Bridge. Freak gasps. 

“I’ve always wanted to go to San Francisco and see the Golden Gate Bridge with Fair Gwen!” He exclaims, “I never imagined being on top though… How did we get here?” 

Freak continues looking around in excitement and confusion. 

“And how do we get back?” Max asks the million-dollar question. 

Freak shrugs nonchalantly, not concerned. 

“Who cares? We’re at the Golden Gate Bridge,” he says. 

Max sighs. 

“What about Grim, Gram, and Fair Gwen? They’re going to be worried about us when we don’t come home,” he retorts, “Staying here is not an option.”

 Freak continues to look around, and pulls out a polaroid camera. 

“Just one quick photo,” Freak insists.

 Max sighs. 

“Ok, fine,” he says.

 Once the photo is snapped, Max realizes the problem.

 “We still don’t know how to get home,” he says. 

Freak sighs. Magically, a portal appears, close enough for Freak and Max to jump into. 

“Wait…We don’t know where this leads,” Freak points out. 

Max sighs once more.

 “We need to get home. Let’s just take the risk,” he says, deciding it was worth it. 

Taking deep breaths, Freak and Max blindly jump into the portal. There is a blinding light, and Max opens his eyes slowly, looking around. 

“WHOOHOO!” He whoops, “We’re back home!” 

Freak looks around as well and sees they are back on the sidewalk that they started on. No Golden Gate Bridge in sight. 

“Yay!” Freak says, a little disappointed that they aren’t at the Golden Gate Bridge anymore. 

Or anywhere else. He was hoping for an adventure. Maybe go to a magical land, like in Lion Witch, and the Wardrobe. They begin walking back home again. Once they reach their homes, they wave goodbye. 

“That sort of an adventure,” Freak says. 

Max nods at him.

 “It was sorta fun,” he says.

 Freak smiles and waves. Once Freak goes inside, he sees Fair Gwen sitting on their couch reading a novel. The title says Crown of Thorns by Evelyn Carmine. Sounds like an adult book. 

“Hi Fair Gwen,” Freak greets his mother, who’s real name is Gwen. 

Fair Gwen waves at him.

“Hey Kevin!” She says. 

Fair Gwen didn’t notice my absence, Freak thinks and then goes to his room and opens his dictionary…

Max enters his home and sees Grim and Gram, his grandparents. They are watching television. 

“Hey Grim! Hey Gram!” Max greets them. 

They showed no signs of noticing he was a little late. Max looks at the clock. 4:32. Two minutes late. That’s ok. Gram waves and smiles. 

“Hi Max!” She says. 

Grim grunts. 

“Hey Max,” He says, then looks back at the TV. Max goes down to his room and lays on the bed. Closing his eyes, he slowly falls asleep. Today was a long day, Max thinks tiredly.