Peace Child

Peace Child
by Don Richardsons

by by
illustrated by

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	- Religious, Christian, missionary biography
Adult Content	:	- yes
Mature Topics	:	- yes
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- no
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- yes (real, demonic)
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- no
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- no
Violence/Abuse	:	- yes
Educational Value	:	- yes
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Positive

---

Your text here. Don Richardson carries us deep into the jungles to the Sawi tribe and uses words to paint a clear picture of life among them. His story begins long before he even arrived. He begins with the conflict that created the atmosphere of revenge and hostility that he entered unknowingly, and how God moved to bring him there in the midst of it.

The Sawi people exalted treachery. Their highest honor was to befriend someone with what they believed to be genuine friendship only to turn on them after an extended relationship and kill and eat them. The cannibalistic rituals are described in detail in this book that obviously gets somewhat gruesome at times. Other rituals include dancing under a rotting corpse and a rarely used trick involves a woman touching a man's genitals. In reading to my kids, I intentionally skipped portions and summarized, sometimes vaguely the activities of these tribes.

Story after story shows the depravity of these people apart from Christ. Richardson does not dwell on them, but he does not sugarcoat them either. This is a powerful book but not one I would read to children under middle school without lots of omissions. And, even in handing it to a high schooler I would want them to know what they are in for and discuss the events as they unfold.

Despite the gory nature of many of their traditions and the danger and suspense of jungle living, the powerful story of life change left me in tears. Richardson ends up using one of these unbelievable rituals to show the incredible love of Christ. Only He was the eternal Peace Child that they were seeking. It was amazing how God placed this redemptive analogy in this corrupt culture to prepare their hearts for the gospel.

Each chapter ends where you will not want to put it down. Reading a chapter a day was not nearly enough for most of my kids. Life changing and unforgettable.

The Search for WondLa

by Tony DiTerlizzi
illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	none
Adult Content	:	No
Mature Topics	:	Yes
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	No
Magic/Witchcraft	:	No
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	Yes
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	No
Violence/Abuse	:	Yes
Educational Value	:	No
Positive/Negative Message	:	-

---

Eva Nine had never seen the actual sun before, or walked outdoors. In fact, she had never even seen another living person in all twelve years of her life. That changes when a marauding huntsman destroys her underground home and send her fleeing for her life. She is desperate to find someone else who is like her, and a single clue give her hope: a crumbling picture of a girl, a robot, an adult, and the word WondLa.
The Search for WondLa begins a trilogy whose imaginative text and breathtaking illustrations are sure to inspire dreams.

Four-hundred-sixty-six pages long, this book took just over one day for my dd (14) to read and one for myself. It is easy reading; nothing too complicated.

There isn't a slant that I could tell that would categorize this book as religious or secular.
In terms of 'adult content', there is none. There is some 'mature content': it starts with Besteel, a huntsman, destroying the 'sanctuary' (or living quarters) of Eva ("Earth in Vitro Alpha"- the main character). There is violence toward other characters in the book, mostly by Besteel. There are a few instances where Eva is trying to escape and catastrophe seems to follow- destruction of property. There are also instances of animals being hunted for eating. 

In one scene, I felt it was quite sad, Besteel has captured many creatures and we are given the details of him killing one of the creatures. It isn't extremely graphic but it was definitely 'mature content'! Another time we are witnesses to a scene of a creature being 'preserved' for display in a museum- but it is alive when they begin the procedure. The animal is paralyzed and then frozen (?) before it's skin is removed so that its internal organs can be seen. Depending on the sensitivity of the reader, that could be quite bothersome.

Eva is disrespectful to her Muthr (which stands for Multi-Utility Task Help Robot; a robot that has been Eva's 'mother' since her birth) and disobeys when she is forbidden to travel to certain parts of the sanctuary. 

I thought it was a good book. It feels like it is a different planet throughout the book. Strange creatures and languages. It is basically about a girl that is forced to survive in an unknown environment with simply her wits (because all she has been taught doesn't really come in handy). She makes friends of unlikely creatures and they all help her to overcome. I suppose it could be construed as 'positive' message- don't give up.

Timeless

by Alexandra Monir
illustrated by N/A

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	- secular
Adult Content	:	- yes
Mature Topics	:	- yes
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- no
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- yes
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- yes
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- yes
Violence/Abuse	:	- yes
Educational Value	:	- no
Positive/Negative Message	:	- -

---

This a 'romance' but definitely not in the Harlequin Romance fashion. Written for 'young adults', this book contains scenes of kissing, dating, and if not for the morals of a 1910 gentleman tossed in, there might have been more.


Michele is the sixteen-year-old daughter of a single (never been married) mother living in California. Going into her junior year of high school, Michele has just recently been dumped by her boyfriend for a sophomore. That is the first instance of adult/mature content, in my opinion. Michele's mother dies near the beginning of the book in a car crash (another mature topic). Quite sad.

Fast forward a bit in the book and there are more references to mature content. Michele meets Philip (who lives in 1910, and this is where the 'magic' comes in- see farther down in my post) and they instantly connect. At first it is just the feeling of 'puppy love' (butterflies, sweaty palms, blushing) but before long they do kiss. Although the author does a great job of keeping it mellow, the mind can definitely get carried away with the emotions that the characters are feeling (heart beating faster, breath catching, tingling skin, etc., -words from the book). The most 'intense' scene if you will is on page 166-167, where the chivalry from 1910 comes to the rescue of something happening that shouldn't!

One of Michele's past relatives is Clara, the illegitimate daughter of one of her great-great-great (?) grandfathers. A little later after meeting Clara (by going back in time mysteriously via a key and a diary), we learn that Clara's mother and Michele's g-g-g-grandfather had had an affair.

There isn't reference to God or religion that I can recall in this book and I've marked that it contains magic/witchcraft but in the book they would associate it more in a scientific way (think Einstein's Theory of Relativity) but it's still 'magic' to me. 

There is one or two scenes where Michele argues quite disrespectfully with her grandparents, and she on more than one occasion doesn't follow the rules that her grandparents have set. I have marked no for strong language because there is no cussing but the arguments may equate to 'strong' language for some.


At one point Michele goes back to 1925 and meets her great-grandmother, Lily. In the first scenes of this meeting they are planning for Lily to sneak out, against her parents rules, to perform at a 'speakeasy'. In another scene Lily has had some 'giggle water' and is obviously intoxicated. She is also accused of letting an older man 'practically feeling' her up.

And there is one particular scene, after Michele sees Philip for the first time in 1910, where his uncle gives him a beating. We aren't subjected to the details but Philip has a 'bruised and painfully red' cheek. When questioned about it, Philip says, "Our little dance cost me a good beating."

Although I have marked no for educational value, there are many parts of this book that include accurate historical information. Primarily of New York during the Gilded Age, the Roaring Twenties and during World War II. The author's detailed descriptions of the architecture, culture and society during those times is educational, but the frequency is so little that it is almost an after thought and it would be difficult, for me personally, to justify using this as a historical reference/book.


And now what the book is 'about' (courtesy of the front flap):
When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor's family, she is forced to move from Los Angeles to New York City to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she has never met. In their historic Fifth Avenue mansion, filled with a century's worth of family secrets, Michele discovers the biggest family secret of all-an ancestor's diary that, amazingly, has the power to send her back in time to 1910, the year it was written. There, at a high-society masquerade ball, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life. And she finds herself falling for him, and into an otherworldly romance.
Soon Michele is leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves- and to complete a quest that will determine their fate.

Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile

by Gloria Houston
illustrated by Susan Condie Lamb

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	-no
Adult Content	:	-no
Mature Topics	:	-no
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	-no
Magic/Witchcraft	:	-no
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	-no
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	-no
Violence/Abuse	:	-no
Educational Value	:	-yes
Positive/Negative Message	:	-Teaches the history of a library.

---

Oh, another great picture book!! This one is written by the same author that wrote My Great-Aunt Arizona...look into it, it's a good one as well!!

I think I'm partial to this book because it takes place in North Carolina-our home!

The book opens and you meet Dorothy, a little girl who loves books and loves people. She loves to loan out her books to her friends so that they too can find the treasures in them. Dorothy then determines that when she grows up she will become the librarian of the fine brick library in the center of the town square in her hometown of Massachusetts.

We find out however that even after attending college; preparing herself to be the best educated librarian that she can be; her plans don't happen like she thought.

The story then takes readers to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina where Miss Dorothy's librarian dreams take a route that she didn't quite expect.

Oh, this is a lovely book!! It displays how one person's love of books can permeate her surroundings and affect the lives of those she comes in contact with. It teaches that although things may not turn out exactly as we had planned that doesn't mean that our dreams won't be fulfilled. Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile also inspires a love and respect for libraries and librarians alike.

If you are a book lover-and you probably wouldn't be reading this blog if you weren't-then you need to check out this and other books by Gloria Houston. You won't be disappointed.

This book would also be a good addition to any study on libraries that you may be doing in your homeschool!  

The Firehouse Light

by Janet Nolan
illustrated by Marie Lafrance

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	-no
Adult Content	:	-no
Mature Topics	:	-no
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	-no
Magic/Witchcraft	:	-no
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	-no
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	-no
Violence/Abuse	:	-no
Educational Value	:	-yes
Positive/Negative Message	:	-no

---

We recently ended our 2010/2011 school year with a trip to a local fire department. It was a pretty last minute deal but I am so glad that we went. The fireman was extremely detailed and the kids (especially my son who went clad in his very own fireman outfit) loved it! Afterward we took a trip to the library and like all other Mom's out there I decided to look for a book that would compliment what we had just learned.

I happened across The Firehouse Light book by accident and immediately fell in love with the illustrations. (What can I say, I am visual...pictures attract me!!) They were done using acrylics and are a feast for the eyes!!


Anyway, the book! It's story starts out with this line, "A long time ago, when horse-drawn buggies delivered ice to keep food cold, and laundry dried on ropes in the sun, fires were fought with buckets, axes, and hand-pulled carts with water hoses." As the story unfolds, we find out that these poor firefighters had to fiddle with with lanterns in pitch-dark sheds to quickly find the equipment they needed. Then, one day, and elderly citizen brings to the firefighters a gift of a single lightbulb.


The book then skips ahead 10 years with every turn of the page and the readers learn what life was like in that little town for its citizens and its firefighters after 10 years of having the light, 20 years, 30 years on up to 100 years. And that lightbulb, well, it stays lit.

At the 100 year mark the townspeople throw a long deserved celebration for their faithful lightbulb. And ya know what, in the afterward at the end of the story we learn that the bulb-the same lightbulb-is still hanging from a single cord twenty feet above the ground in the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department's Station #6. It even has its own backup generator (to keep it going), webcam and website: http://www.centennialbulb.org/.

It's an amazingly sweet story that teaches so much! First of all it teaches history; the evolution of fighting fires, the evolution of a town and the evolution of it's people. It teaches math; counting by 10's up to 100. And it teaches, although quite subtly, how important faithfulness and dedication are to our society.

This is a great book! I highly recommend it for all of your firefighting enthusiasts!!

Hot X: Algebra Exposed

by Danica McKellar
illustrated by N/A

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	None-
Adult Content	:	Yes-
Mature Topics	:	Yes-
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	Yes, minimal-
Magic/Witchcraft	:	No-
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	Yes-
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	Yes-
Violence/Abuse	:	Yes-
Educational Value	:	Yes-
Positive/Negative Message	:	Positive-

---

Hot X: Algebra Exposed is a middle/high school book about Algebra. It is written towards that age group and specifically for GIRLS. 
There is no distinguishable religious slant yet it does not talk against religious beliefs (it would be more secular than religious!).
The book is written for modern day girls aged 13+. There is reference to crushes on boys, obsessing over boys, dating, sex, drinking, partying and drugs. The focus on boys and liking them is prevalent throughout the book. 
Here is the lowdown on what might be of concern to some (myself included):

• "kick-ass" -dedication page
• "suck"- page xiv and throughout the book in reference to her other book by the title Math Doesn't Suck as well as slang for 'bad'.
• "kick butt"- page 3
• "tool" as it meaning "total loser"- page 10
• Wishing a guy would like her who she had a crush on- page 15
• Giving the impression that smarts gets the job, money and the life one dreams of (material pursuits)- page 20
• Romance and sex are talked about- page 26
• Drugs, partying- page 30
• Boy crazy- page 39
• Dating/boyfriends- throughout the book
• Kissing- page 40
• Crushes on boys is prevalent throughout the book
• Bullying- page 72
• Imagining the variable x is a kiss from 'some guy' (denotes it is alright to get kisses from various guys)- page 85
• Breaking up with a boyfriend (at the age of 15)- page 140
• Kissing- page 140
• Domestic violence- page 146
• Wishy-washy with emotions (I took it to denote that is it okay to like one moment and not another)- page 182
• Martinis- page 239
• "kick-ass"- page 263
• Drinking wine (and while on the job)- page 272
• Polygamy (gives the definition)- page 298
• "heck"- page 286

Some good points:

• Modest attire mentioned "your cute tankini and cover-up"- page 202
• References to faith and God helping in ones life- page 222
• Overall there is a message of being positive and confident in who you are and your abilities. 
• Don't let math get the better of you- don't let the 'fear' run your life.
• Don't let others control your actions and be true to yourself.

Because this isn't a review of this book as a math book I will leave it at what I have. But I do intend to read it more fully to see how it does stack up as a math book and will write a review on my blog soon.

20 and Counting

by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar
illustrated by

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	- Yes, Christian
Adult Content	:	- No
Mature Topics	:	- No
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- No
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- No
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- No
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- No
Violence/Abuse	:	- No. There is one part where Jim Bob describes a robbery of his home. There is a gun involved.
Educational Value	:	- Yes
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Yes, Very Positive and Encouraging.

---

 This is one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's story is encouraging.

The Duggar's are a homeschool family, who have not only put the amount of children they have in God's hand, but their whole lives.

They have learned to depend on God for everything they have, instead of themselves.

They learned early on the effects of debt, and have been determined not to ever borrow money.

You will see how God provided for this family in so many wonderful ways.

It has really encouraged me to lean more on Christ, and less on myself.

You will find all kinds of tips for running a family. These tips can be used in large and small families alike.

You will find helpful tips in areas such as:

Homeschooling
Housekeeping
Cooking
Moving
Finances
Marriage

And much more.

This is a must read for all ages. It is appropriate enough for children to read.

The only part that may be scary is when Jim Bob was tied up at gun point in his garage, while he was being robbed. But even this story is such a testimony to the Lord.

This whole book is such a testimony to the Lord. Very inspiring, and very encouraging.

Trailblazer Books-The Forty-Acre Swindle

by Dave & Neta Jackson
illustrated by

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	- yes, emphasizes that when we put our trust in the Lord, even when things look bad, He is faithfully working for a better end for those who lean on Him.
Adult Content	:	- no
Mature Topics	:	- yes-does deal with racism in an honest and open way.
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- Uses many terms that were common of the day when referring to African-Americans. (I only substituted words a couple of times.)
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- no
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- no
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- no
Violence/Abuse	:	- no
Educational Value	:	- exposes children to how racism can affect the lives of others, and how pride and deceit can harm
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Promotes the desire to love people as God does, unconditionally. Encourages children to see the importance of working together as a family. Focuses on the recompense of hard work.

---

Although these books have been around for a while this was our first reading adventure with the series. I read this with my three oldest, ages 5.5, 7.5 and 9 years. Obviously the older two were better suited for the book, but my 5 year old took a lot away from it, and enjoyed it very much. 


The Forty-Acre swindle is set in Alabama in the late 1800's. It focuses on a young boy named Jesse Turner and his family. As was typical with the day, Jesse and his family face a good amount of racism from the, as the book labels it, "white folk" of the community. The only thing in the world that Jesse and his family own is their land, 40 acres of tired cotton farmed land. When someone begins to sabotage their efforts in harvesting for the new year they become desperate. As a chance meeting the Turner's meet a man by the name of George Washington Carver who does all he can to teach the Turners and their neighbors how to be self-sufficient farmers. With Mr. Washington's help the Turner's luck seems to have taken a turn for the better until the mysterious problems start, and their harvest is threatened once more.


This was an amazing book!!! The kids could not wait for each new chapter! I don't really know why I stayed away from these books but I am glad to have begun a friendship with the series. 


The Jacksons spare nothing. This book is written about a very difficult time in our nation's history, yet the Jacksons do not shy away from bringing the reality of the things many African-American families endured during those difficult years. At first I was taken aback at the way some of the dialogue was written but it's a portion of our history that I decided our children needed some exposure to, so we read on. The story unfolds in an awesome way, and God's hand is seen clearly in how He used George Washington Carver to help many people become more self-sufficient, gain a knowledge for God's awesome creation, and become encouraged by his strong faith in the Lord.


I highly recommend this book! We will begin our 2nd book of the Trailblazer's series soon!!

The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari

by Donita K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark
illustrated by Vincent Nguyen

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	- Mostly secular but does have one Bible verse
Adult Content	:	- None
Mature Topics	:	- None
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- None
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- None
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- None
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- None
Violence/Abuse	:	- None
Educational Value	:	- Teaches about overcoming fear; friendship
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Positive messages of overcoming fear and friendships

---

The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari
Authors: Donia K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark
Illustrated by Vincent Nguyen
Hardback, 36 pages
ISBN: 978-0-307-44645-9
Retail: $11.99

We had the opportunity to review this cute little book and we really enjoyed it!  The illustrations are very good and the story is interesting.  DS3 really liked it...he wanted me to read it to him several times!

The story is about Roger, the turtle, and Padraig, the dragon, who are best friends.  They decide to spend the night out in the woods together but end up being very afraid of every sound they hear.  They do eventually overcome their fear to save a baby "leopard".  The story is written in a very unique manner that is incredibly fun to read.

The very last page of the book (glued to the back cover) is also something very nice - it is a Bible verse (Deuteronomy 31:6; of which this book is based off) along with some discussion starters.  Nice addition!

We would definately recommend this book to others.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Blogging 4 Books in exchange for my honest review. No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Little Star by Anthony DeStefano

by Anthony DeStefano
illustrated by Mark Elliott

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	- Religions
Adult Content	:	- None
Mature Topics	:	- None
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- None
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- None
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- None
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- None
Violence/Abuse	:	- None
Educational Value	:	- Teaches the story of Jesus
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Teaches that Jesus came to save all

---

Publisher: Multnomah Books
Hardback, 40 pages
Recommended Ages: 4 - 8
ISBN 978-0-307-45805-6
Retail Price: $12.9

This is a childrens book that tells the story of Jesus in a way that I have never even thought of - from that of the little shining star.

There are two parts to this story - the story of the star and the story of Jesus.

The story of the star talks about how no one likes him, how he is too small and how everyone ignores him.

The second part of the story is about Jesus, about how He came to serve and save "the little people".

Although I think the author was trying to tie the story of the star to how Jesus came to save the ones no one likes - I didn't really like how it was tied together (or wasn't really tied together).  I did appreciate  the part of the little star story where even though he was the littlest - he was the only one who saw Jesus as the King through the poverty and circumstances.

If you are looking for a book that tells the story of Jesus in an entirely new way...this is the book for you!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Blogging 4 Books in exchange for my honest review. No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

31 Days of Drawing Near to God

by Ruth Myers
illustrated by N/A

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	- Christian
Adult Content	:	- References to dating and/or courtship
Mature Topics	:	- Death, cancer, dying
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- No
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- No
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- No
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- No
Violence/Abuse	:	- No
Educational Value	:	- --
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Positive

---

Paperback
184pages
Published by WaterBrook Multnomah 


Devotional, 31 days.
Each day has commentary followed by scriptures. 


This book includes many of the authors own experiences that may be compared to the readers circumstances. Myers' first husband died from an aggressive cancer and her second (at the writing of the book) was diagnosed and undergoing treatment for cancer.


I would say this is more suited to a high school student and older. Some of the references may be confusing to those younger.

The Search

by Suzanne Woods Fisher

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	- Religious
Adult Content	:	- None
Mature Topics	:	- None
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- None
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- None
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- Very little; not inappropriately shared
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- None
Violence/Abuse	:	- Very little; not inappropriately shared
Educational Value	:	- None
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Positive message

---

The SearchAuthor: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Paperback, 295 pages
Retail: $14.99

This book was absolutely AMAZING!  Once I got started, I couldn’t put it down!  Every time you think the story has as many curves as it can get, Mrs Fisher throws in another one!  This story is engaging and very well written.

It is about an Amish community and many of the people that live within (and a few that live without) that community.  It is mainly about one family, that has been “torn” apart by an accident involving a drunk driver and the death of the son’s wife.  When he couldn’t take the pain of living there any longer, he moved himself and his little girl to another state.  The son’s mother, called “Mammy”, requests that her grandaughter come spend the summer with her.  Although nervous, she decides to go (mostly to avoid being home when her father gets her Algebra grade).  Not long after arriving, she learns that Mammy is an incredible person.  With in the next couple months, she also learns about teenage crushes (and their pain), death, the REAL meaning of family, Biblical sacrifice and what it means to have faith in the Lord.

About the Author

In no particular order, Suzanne Woods Fisher is a wife, mother, writer, lifelong student of the Bible, raiser of puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, a gardener and a cook…the latter two with sporadic results.

Suzanne has loved to write since she was a young teen. After college, she started to write for magazines and became a contributing editor for Christian Parenting Today magazine. Her family moved to Hong Kong for four years, just as the internet was developing, and she continued to write articles in a 44-story high-rise apartment, sending manuscripts 7,000 miles away with a click of a key.

After returning from Hong Kong, Suzanne decided to give her first novel a try. For four and a half months, she worked on an antediluvian computer in a cramped laundry room. She didn’t even tell her husband what she was up to. When the novel was completed, she told her family at dinner one night that she had written a book. “That’s why there’s no food in this house!” said her slightly insensitive sons.

Undaunted…Suzanne found a small royalty publisher for that book and wrote three more (all earned multiple awards). With help from an agent, she now has numerous  books under contract with Revell. Also look for Suzanne’s Amish non-fiction, Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, a non-fiction book of stories and examples about the Old Order Amish, as well as Amish Proverbs, and coming in Spring of 2011, look for Amish Values for Your Family. The Choice and The Waiting are the previous books in the Lancaster County Secrets Collection.

Writing, for Suzanne, is a way to express a love of God and His word. With every book or article, she hopes readers get a sense of what faith really looks like in the daily grind. She hopes they realize that life can be hard, but God is good, and never to confuse the two.

Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Blind Hope

by Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher

---

Religious/Secular Content	:	- Both but mostly religious
Adult Content	:	- None that would be inappropriate
Mature Topics	:	- Nothing that would be inappropriate
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- None
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- None
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- None
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- None
Violence/Abuse	:	- None
Educational Value	:	- None
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Positive message about trusting the Lord

---

Blind HopeAuthor: Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher
Publisher: Multnomah Books
Paperback, 178 pages
ISBN 9781601422804
Retail Price: $13.99

This book was wonderfully refreshing and was not at all boring! It is easy to read and moves quickly. Being an animal lover and dog trainer, I can completely relate to a lot of the thoughts and feelings shared within.

This story reminds me of a parrable being told – using the life of a dog to explain the ways of life with God in your life. The story is about a woman who rescues a dog – but in reality the dog rescues the woman. Laurie was raise in a Christian home but never really put God first in her life. She made a lot of bad choices and didn’t believe in true love, peace or contentment.

Through watching her dog cheerfully bound thru lifes hardships, she learned many important lessons about how she had been pushing God away and trying to do things on her own. This TRUE STORY shows just how God does meet us right where we are.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!