Be the Change

Your guide to Freeing Slaves and changing the world
Author: Zach Hunter
Page: 157
Age group: any age
Genre: Auto-biography, changing the world

Most people think the average teenager isn't capable of much beyond hanging with their friends and wasting time. But Zach Hunter isn't your average teenager. And he's hoping to show you that you're not either. Zach has been trying to end slavery around the globe. Most people (maybe even you) think that slavery has been over for a long time. But sadly, there are more people bound in slavery now than at any of the times we read about in our history books. Now Zach is working to end slavery and free the men, women, and children who are being held against their will. He's even found some friends in the fight, including Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Leeland Mooring of Leeland. Just look around the world and on the news and you'll find that there are plenty of things wrong with our planet---homelessness, hunger, global warming, AIDS...the list goes on and on. And we usually look at these problems and decide they're too big for us to do anything about. But Zach is proving that one person can make a difference. And in his book, he'll reveal the elements needed to make amazing changes in your world. In the end, he hopes you'll find the thing you're passionate about---and start making changes! 

My Review

What an inspirational book! I have been really enjoying reading these inspiring change the world sort of books as i think that if lots of people read them and make a move toward ending poverty we would see the back of poverty and live in a more balanced world. I hope that you read this book and try to make a difference into someones life. Even if that means just giving up one small thing that you wanted to get or even just helping someone who dropped all their books. Whatever it is I hope that you do something nice to someone else this week.

Thanks, Courtney  

 

First Light

Author: Brodie & Brock Thoene
Pages: 391
Genre: historical, bible themes.
Age Group: 14 - Adult
Series: A.D. Chronicles
Jerusalem
The ancient city where hatred, deceit, longing, and desperation smolder in every heart.
Spiritual and political darkness shroud the world's holiest and most turbulent city. Ruled by Rome and manipulated by religious rulers with only selfish interests in mind, the people of Jerusalem wonder if their Deliverer will ever come.
Susanna and Manaen desperately search for hope and meaning- in a world where their love is forbidden. Others pray and wait for light, the True light of Messiah, to dawn. Peniel the beggar, Marcus the Roman Centurion, Zadok the Chief Shepherd of Israel, and his three adopted orphan boys - all long for a vision of hope. 
Now a healer named Yeshu walks the streets of Jerusalem. Is he the true Messiah? Or only another imposter, like so many before him?

My Review

Although this book seemed to take me a long time to read, I loved every moment of it so much!

It was so interesting mainly because it was set Jerusalem and had some events out of the bible. It had scripture references and had many lessons to be learned in it. I will definitely read some of of Brodie & Brock's books. This book was a very thick book and I had to read some things over twice because they were hard to digest but I absolutely loved it.

I rate it 8 out of 10!! 

Thanks Genelle, I loved reading this book and also thanks for the books you gave me!!

#1 Kit Hunter, Show jumper

Author: Peter Grey
Pages: 184
Age Group: 10+
Genre: Horses, Mystery, Adventure
First published: 1959
The wild one strangely enough doesn't have a blurb so.. i guess i will have to explain!

My Review

When Kit Hunters parents die she is left to fend for herself. Yet her 'Uncle Richard' (not really her uncle but that's what she calls him) invites her to come and stay at his farm out on the moor grange. She used to love staying there when she was younger so quickly took up the offer. When Kit finds out that Uncle Richard is struggling for money she is quickly on the scent and is sniffing down suspects. Whilst Kit and Mary (the stable hand at the farm) in the middle of the mystery they find out about a strange horse which doesn't seem to belong in the wilderness. Is this The Wild One?? Will they be able to save Moor Grange in time???

This book was absolutely thrilling, loved every bit of it!
I am on the lookout for the rest of the books in this series as I loved reading them so much!!
keep reading,
Courtney the book worm ☺ 

Jackie won a pony

Author: Judith M. Berrisford
Pages: 127
Age group: 9+
Genre: Horses, Adventure
First published: 1958

Blurb
Dear Jaqueline,
You will, I am sure, be delighted to learn that the judges of our competition for the best essay on 'If i won a pony' have awarded you the first prize of a pony.
yours sincerely,
Stephen Clarke
Editor of horseshoes
Jackie has always longed for a pony of her own. Now she can have her pick of any number of beautiful, well-bred, highly-trained ponies. But then she sees Misty-a sad, grey pony, pulling a firewood cart- and Jackie knows that, for her no other pony will do.

My review
I am such a fan of old Horse books!! Jackie won a pony was so 'original'! I thought it was such a cool book! It was all about how a girl called Jackie wins a pony of her choice but although she has choice of many well bred show horses but ends up choosing an ex-cart pulling horse. They have many adventures together and make many friends along the way. I rate this book 8 out of 10.

Hi everyone,
Hope you are all healthy and well.
Back at school/work again!! :(
Holidays are over!
enjoy this awesome book!
Courts 

The Mennyms

Author: Sylvia Waugh
Pages: 236
Age Group: 9+
Genre: Mystery, Real life, 
 From the outside, 5 Brocklehurst Grove looks like an ordinary house - the windows are always clean, and the garden well-tended. And from the inside, to hear the voices of the inhabitants, the Mennym family, you would think they were an ordinary family, too. Wrong! The Mennyms - Granny and Grandpa, Vinetta and Joshua and their five children, as well as the elusive Miss Quigley and mysterious Pilbeam - are far from ordinary. The whole family shares an astonishing secret to which nobody has even come close... until perhaps,now. When an airmail letter from Australia comes through the letterbox of number 5, its contents are enough to plunge the whole family into fear that now, for the first time, the mystery surrounding it is about to be exposed. 

My review 

Great book! very unusual and creative, you have no idea what is going to happen next! I rate it 8 out of 10. I found it a really interesting book so I'm sure you would enjoy reading it too. This is the first book in the Mennym's series and starts it off with a boom! Highly recommend to primary school students especially!

Hopefully I'll see you again,

Courts

Americans Vs Australians

I would just like to let you all know that the Americans have officially had more views than that of the people of my Home country Australia. I would just like to say to all you Americans Thank you for supporting me and i would also like to promote My Favourite Australian Authors to you as i think Australia has some very talented authors and I only reccomend the best. 
So continue reading and I shall work to make my blog better and more personal!
If you have any Ideas please, please share them with me by posting underneath this post or by emailing me (go into my profile and click contact me button).
Hope to hear from you,
Courtney
 

Hello everyone

Hi everyone,
I would just like to thank you all for supporting me on my blog throughout my first year in 2012! If anyone has any ideas or suggestions for things that i could change or add to my blog to improve it. I would love to hear from you! Thanks again for reading and (hopefully) enjoying my writing. I love to hear from people all around the world so feel free to comment on my posts etc!
Hope you continue following my reading progress throughout 2013.
Thanks again
Courtney :)

A Basket of flowers

Author: Christoph Von Schmid
Pages:189
Age Group: 11+
Genre: Christian, real life, imprisonment
First Published:1999

 Blurb

Mary grows up sheltered and secure in a beautiful cottage with a loving father. She learns lessons about humility, purity and forgiveness under her father's watchful gaze.

However, it doesn't last. Even though she loves God and obeys him this does not protect her ultimately from the envy and hatred of others. Mary is given a generous gift of a new dress from her friend Amelia, the daughter of the local landowner. This incites envy from Juliette, Amelia's maid who had wanted the dress for herself.

When Amelia's mother's ring goes missing Juliette decides to pass the blame onto Mary. Both Mary and her father are imprisoned for the crime and eventually exiled from their home. Mary learns to trust in God completely as difficulty follows after difficulty.

Even when she doubts if she will ever clear her name she turns back to God who is a constant source of comfort to her. Who did steal the ring in the end? That is the final unexpected twist in the tale, which makes this book a really good read. 

My Review

Hi, Everyone! My Best Friend Damaris Brought me this book! 

Message to D: Thanks Damaris, Loved the Book.

 It is a really great book, she couldn't have chosen a better book for me! It was very educational, with some very important morals behind the text. I highly recommend this book to you not just because of the story but because it has lessons in it that could change the way you live! I Rate this book 8 out of 10 but I will +1 because of the great lessons embed in the story so I rate it...
 9 out of 10!!!

Hope you read this one,

Summer is here!

It is starting to warm up here in Victoria

am looking forward to the warmer weather.

Christmas is coming up pretty quickly!!

I might post some Christmas present ideas up sometime next month!   

See you all soon,

Courtney the reader behind the posts!! 

Sparrow

Author: Michael Morpurgo
Pages:253
Age group: 11+
Genre: Joan of Arc, history, Birds, Battles
Published: 2012
There was only one creature on this earth who really knew Joan. He was a sparrow, just an ordinary sparrow...
He was her best friend on this earth, maybe her only friend, too.
A young girl faces an impossible task - to save her beloved France from tyrants. To free her country, Joan will lose everyone she has ever loved. But she listens to her heart and believes in her calling.
Many years later, a girl called Eloise has a very special dream about her heroine, Joan of Arc.
My Review
wow! Great book! This was a really interesting book which is set in the time of Joan Of Arc. It was even more suitable because at school I am learning about the Medieval Times. The story is told through both a sparrow and Joan's point of view. It is all about Joan's life and how she rids the English out of France. 

Hope you enjoy this great book by Michael Morpugo! He also published a book called outlaw about robin hood, when sparrow was released!
See you soon,
Courtney 

#9 Trixie Belden and the Happy valley mystery

Author: Kathryn Kenny (Pen name)
Pages: 212
Age group: 11-adult (everyone likes Trixie no matter what age!)
Genre: Mystery, Farm life, 

"we'd better get out of here," Jim said. Trixie nodded, unable to say anything. A rush and a roar of water followed the collapse of the bridge. About fifty or seventy-five feet from them, water swirled angrily. Big tree branches floated by out in the current, then the bloated body of a cow, and half a dozen chickens. 
"turn the car around as fast as you can," Honey urged, terrified. "Oh, you can't turn around, Jim! There isn't a road anymore!"

My Review
When the Bob-Whites go to the Beldens uncle's farm they are thrilled! But when Trixie finds out there are some sheep thieves on the loose, she is constantly naming suspects who turn out to be neighbors or people who are definitely not the thieves. So she is the laughing stock of the household! This really upsets her and makes her even more eager to find the real thieves! Will she find out who is stealing her uncles sheep? What is the strange light in the woods near the farm?
Will Trixie find out the answers???

A great book, Hope you are having a good holiday, and enjoying the last few days! Take care,
Courtney

Rebecca of sunnybrook farm

Author: Kate Douglas Wiggin 
Page: 279
Age group: 11+
Genre: Realistic, friendship,olden days etc.

Blurb

"Shes's got the making of most anything in her, Rebeccca has." 
It is with some trepidation that Rebecca dismounts from the old stage coach at the austere brick house in riverboro. She doesn't quite know what to expect - no more than do her elderly spinster aunts, Miranda and Jane. but her mother is certain that this will be "the making of Rebecca" - and she's right.
Rebecca is about the most likeable girl you could hope to meet. Her extrovert nature, boundless energy and irrepressible enthusiasm soon captivate all who come across her, and life is never quite the same again. 
My Review
I thought this was a great book! I can see how it has been a firm favorite since its publication in 1903. I was slightly disappointed that Rebecca and Mr.Aladdin didn't get married. The Author has done a great Job creating this spectacular book.

Keep reading
Thanks,
Courtney

million dollar mates #4 Golden girl

Author: Cathy Hopkins

Pages: 220

Age group: 11+

genre: India, Friendship, history, realistic, Celebrities

Jess and Pia are stuck at home revising while their friends from Porchester Park jet off on glamorous holidays. They're feeling pretty miserable, until Jess's new boyfriend, JJ, asks them to join him and his family on a 7-star all expenses-paid trip to India! It's  a dream come true for Jess, Until she arrives and realises she's not the only Golden girl with her heart set on JJ...

My review

I rate this book 9 out of 10

Great book!! I can't seem to read a book that I don't like!! ha ha. Golden girl is awesome as you not only get to read all about these amazing characters but also get to see what the high life's like in India. Throughout this book there are many beautiful descriptions of Palaces, busy roads and lovely views. But...Jess nearly stuffs up her chance with JJ as she thinks he like the stunningly beautiful actress Shreya. Will Jess manage to fix her mistakes?

Hope you all enjoy this book, Although it is the fourth book I think that you would enjoy it even if you haven't read all the a joining books.

Thanks,

Courts

Summer of my German soldier

Author: Bette Greene

Pages: 205

Age group: 12+ (It is just quite sad near the end)

Genre: Wartime, America

 Blurb

'I'm a Jew,' said Patty's father, 'and 'd rather help a mad dog escape from the pound than help a Nazi.'

When Patty Bergen sold a red pencil sharpener to the German prisoner in her father's store, a friendship was started which was to bring her much unhappiness, but also the greatest joy she'd ever known.

An unusual moving story set in wartime America.

My Review

I rate this book 9 out of 10! 

It is a very moving story and brought tears to my eyes at one stage. It is about a 12 year old girl in a time of war. She was under the influence of a cruel father, which constantly affected her kindness towards others. She was an extremely caring person and I felt as if I knew her when I had finished reading the book. It was really interesting to read about the time during the war and it made me tremedously grateful that i don't live in a war zone. An amazing book, which I could read again and again.

see you soon,

Courtney

riders from afar

Author: Christine Pullein-Thompson

Pages:160

Age group:9+

Genre: Horses, Americans & English, friendships

First Published: 1954

They galloped furiously, excited and exhilarated. The hounds were hot on the scent. The eluded the horses and the cracking whips. In full cry the crossed the river meadows, while Pat shouted, "Hold up!", galloping vainly after the fast disappearing pack.

Gabrielle was galloping beautifully. Jane - the girl from America - thought it was perfect, better than baseball, or traveling fast in a car, or spending the summer in California. Better than anything else; and the cry of the hounds sounded lovelier to her ears than any of her favourite records.

My review

This book was great! I have grown very fond of the Pullein -Thompson twins books! I want to read their other sister Josephine books as well (when I can find some). Riders from Afar is set in England and is about 4 English children and 2 American becoming friends. The Dauncy children were are real motley bunch, David being the oldest 16y's old, then Chloe 14y's, Hazel & David 11y's. They all seemed a lot younger compared to the Jackson kids.

The Jacksons were very grown up for their age and seemed way older than they really were.Tony was 13y's old and Jane was 11y's old. 

The Jackson came from America and rented the Dauncy's castle for a few months. The 4 Dauncy children were all scowling & whingeing before their guests had even arrived. This meant that they didn't get along at the start but.. gradually they all became the greatest of friends. 

A must read book! I rate it 10 out of 10. I got this book for 25c.

Hope you enjoy yourself,
keep up with your reading,
Courts ♥  

Rivals for the crown

Author: Margaret Simpson

Pages: 169

Age group: 12+

Genre: History, royals

Blurb

Two princesses, born seventeen years apart to the same father but different mothers. Their father, King Henry VIII, is determined that no woman shall ever wear the English crown. But when their younger brother, Edward, dies naming another woman as his successor, the two women take action - in very different ways.

Mary Tudor

Forced by her father and brother to publicly renounce her beloved religion, Mary has a heavy cross to bear. Determined to restore England to the true Church, she decides to take matters into her own hands...

Elizabeth Tudor

Bright, beautiful and highly popular at court, Protestant Elizabeth decides to lie low when Lady Jane Grey is declared queen. But must she lie even lower id Mary gets her own way?

 

There are always two sides to every story...

My review

Rivals to the crown was a great book, it was more of an informative read rather than for pleasure but it was very enjoyable. At the moment I am doing a Medieval assignment for school, so this book tied in well with that which was good, it also showed me the way life was in those days. This book helped me learn more about how kingdoms are run and more so about the rivalry families would have felt toward a relation who was the heir to the throne. I rate Rivals to the crown 7 out of 10.

Hope you have all had a good week,

Take care,

Courtney