Review and Tour: Never Blame the Umpire by Gene Fehler

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Gene Fehler

and the book:

Never Blame the Umpire

Zonderkidz (March 1, 2010)

***Special thanks to Bridgette Brooks and Pam Mettler of Zondervan Publishing for sending me a review copy.***

My Review:

Rating: 5.0/5.0


This is an amazing book.  From the first page, Kate took me right into the story and I could relate to so many things that were going on when I was a kid. 

Kate is at the start of one of the best summers of her life until her parents bring her the news that her mother has cancer and it is inoperable.  The rest of the book follows Kate and her family through the summer and how they deal with the coming death of a beloved family member.

I have never been a big fan of poetry but I thoroughly enjoyed the poetry that Kate wrote in this book.  I see poetry now as a wonderful expression of feelings.  Mr. Fehler does an amazing job writing a young teenage girl though don't let that shy boys away from reading this book either.  Kate is athletic and plays sports and her gender figures in less in this story than her place as a child in a family dealing with upcoming death.  I think this book can help either gender deal well with this topic as Kate is in that zone of being a young adult before boys and girls separate fully to chase each other for dating and liking.  So her problems and the way she deals with them can help both boys and girls.

This is a beautiful book and the full focus is not on the death - but on the life they live and the valuable lessons that can be taught on how to trust God even when tragedies happen.

It was funny but I could relate on both sides of Kate and her Mom.  My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was in college and I remember the day I came home to both parents at home (both worked at the time) and how I knew something was wrong.  I could also relate as a mom because I thought I was given a death sentence last spring when they didn't know what was wrong with me.  I immediately wanted to do everything with my kids that I could.  My story thankfully ends better than Kate's mom (they found out it was something entirely different and much more treatable than spinal cancer). 

There are beautiful lessons to be learned in this and a great way for children to understand and cope with death of a loved one.  I loved Kate's mom's ultimate lesson in this book and how true it really is if you think about it.

A beautiful book from start to finish - I think this can appeal to all ages but is focused on young adults.  I enjoyed reading it and will hang on to this one to share with others.

Mr. Fehler writes an amazing story and got me to like poetry, that says a lot.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gene Fehler, an award-winning and widely published poet, is the author of ten published books and over eighteen hundred published poems, stories, and articles. He and his wife, Polly, live in Seneca, South Carolina, where he writes, teaches, and participates in sports.


Visit the author's website.


Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (March 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310719410
ISBN-13: 978-0310719410
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER: Just Press the Button:

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Mailbox Monday - March 1

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. To see this weeks list of participants go here.

I can't remember whose mailbox Monday I saw this on, but using a goodreads bookshelf was a great idea and really easy for me on busy weeks like this.  So here's my Mailbox Monday for this week (and if you are the blogger who had this idea, let me know and I will credit you):

Mailbox-monday

Three more with covers unavailable on Goodreads are:


   

Review: The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter

The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter

Publisher: Dial
Publish Date: April 1, 2010
Hardcover, 224 pages

My rating: 9.0/10.0

I received this book through Other Shelf Tours.


This is a really cute and fun read. Abbie is a witch in a family of witches who live in the world with mortals. And the mortals, of which one of them is Abbie's best friend. Being a witch in the mortal world is hard especially when your little brother is just learning to harness his powers and you keep rescuing him. It kind of makes you stand out at school. On top of that Abbie's dad has brought home a kitten who they eventually figure out is more than just a cat and the book becomes about finding out who the cat really is and helping him become himself again. Lots of funny blunders and a mystery to solve make this the perfect middle grade book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to more in this series. I enjoyed all of Abbie's family and the antics they get themselves into.



Rating Breakdown:
Characterization:    1.5/2.0
Plot:                      1.5/2.0
Writing:                 1.75/2.0
Attention-holding:   0.75/1.0
Ending:                  1.0/1.0
Believable:             1.0/1.0
Genre:                   1.0/1.0    
Rating:                9.0/10.0

About the Book:

Abbie Adams and her family come from a long line of witches, and she’s having a tough time keeping it a secret from her best friend and the rest of her school, especially the day her little brother morphs into a wolf and tries to eat his teacher. That’s also the day her father brings home a kitten.

But when Abbie looks into the kitten’s eyes, she realizes there’s a boy in there! He’s under a spell and soon the whole family bands together to rescue him.

They are shocked to realize he’s none other than the young Thomas Edison, and if they don’t save him fast, he’ll never change the world with his inventions.

Weekend Wondering

On the note of last week, see this post with Hank Phillipi Ryan talking with Smart Bitches about branding. It's really a great post. I think I subscribe to her thoughts of just wanting a good story - I don't care what it's labeled as and I won't worry as much with it in the future - just something to keep vague stats on in my reading spreadsheet.

Also for last week the winner is:

Sweet Vernal Zephyr

For this week - I have no topic - it's been a crazy busy week with my birthday yesterday, my 85-year-old grandmother in the hospital ICU with a broken hip, we're waiting on her to stabilize so she can  have surgery and just the general mayhem of everyday life.

So discuss amongst yourself something  you would like to see discussed here in weekend wonderings, and that you can participate in the discussion with.  What is on your mind.  Comment and you'll get a chance to win a book from my book vault.  The winner from this week gets to choose one of the books, but other than that the rest will be available and as soon as I have her choice I'll update my bookshelf.  I will probably also add some more this week.  You can find the bookshelf here.

Crystal's bookshelf: giveaway



More of Crystal's books »

Have a good week.  This week's discussion giveaway runs through next Friday the 5th.  I'll draw and post the winner next Saturday and will be able to post on some of the great ideas that you give me.

Additional entries for following, tweeting, posting on your blog.  Just let me know what you do. 

Have a great week everyone and if you pray - please lift up my grandmother - she can use all the prayers/good thoughts she can get right now (and also for our family - this is tough)

Out with the In Crowd by Stephanie Morrill (Book Tour & Review)

From a talented new voice in YA fiction:

HOW DO YOU START OVER AGAIN IN HIGH SCHOOL?

Out with the In Crowd (The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt Book #2) by Stephanie Morrill

Publisher: Revell Books

Publish Date: January 1, 2010

Paperback, 252 pages

My Review:

Rating: 9.0/10.0

From what I read in the beginning of this book, it takes up pretty much where book #1 leaves off.  Sklar is returning to school after Christmas break facing her last semester of high school with her wonderful boyfriend and without the in crowd of friends she has hung out with for the last four years.

Skylar's uncertainty seems very true of high school girls or anyone who goes back into a situation with friends who aren't friends any more.  Nothing is glossed over and Skylar's emotions and uncertainties are shared throughout the book.  On the outside Skylar looks very put together, but on the inside she is a typical unsure teenager.

In this book she is also coming to grips with her refound faith and what it means to truly forgive people and trust people.  Her life hasn't exactly been perfect for the past few months and with her parents dealing with problems too, her trust level is way down.  Conner, her boyfriend is one of those people you want to be.  Understanding, forgiving and just friendly no matter what the circumstances and while Skylar wants to be like him, she has a hard time giving up her own wants and whims.  Though some of the things her and Conner start to fight over are what she believes, getting Conner to believe them is another story.

The book keeps you turning pages and even without reading the first book in the series, I felt like I knew Skylar within the first ten pages.  You get enough backstory in this book to understand what has gone on without feeling like you missed much and I am guessing it's not too much backstory if you read the first one.  I do plan on going back and reading the first one and I can't wait until the next one.

As a Christian book, this one pulls no punches and does not show ideal life.  Skylar's younger sister is pregnant and Skylar herself has lead an interesting life before turning back to the Lord.  The situations in this book feel real along with the characters and that is what make this a great read.

Rating Breakdown: 
Characterization:     1.75/2.0
Plot:                       1.75/2.0
Writing:                  1.75/2.0
Attention-holding:   0.75/1.0
Ending:                    1.0/1.0
Believable:               1.0/1.0
    Genre:                      1.0/1.0    
Rating:                9.0/10.0


About the Book:

Teens have embraced Skylar Hoyt, the title character in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series by debut author Stephanie Morrill. Skylar is a character readers can relate to, as she struggles with popularity, fitting in and figuring out what really matters in the midst of it all.

In the second book of the series, Out with the In Crowd, Skylar is struggling with her circle of friends: She’s vowed to change her partying ways, but it's not so easy to change her friends and her old life is constantly staring her in the face. Add to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can't win. After all, how do you choose favorites among the people you love most?

With style and grace, Stephanie Morrill delivers another compelling story that addresses teen issues in Out with the In Crowd.

Romantic Times reviewed the first book in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series, with praise:
“This is a good start to a promising new series. Morrill introduces a strong, relatable character to root for.”

About the Author:

Stephanie Morrill is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Teen Lit writers' group. Morrill is the author of Me, Just Different and Out with the In Crowd, and she also serves in youth ministry. She lives in Kansas with her husband and young daughter.

Photo courtesy Amy Hoskins Photography

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

**Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.**

Thank you to Donna Hausler at Baker Publishing  for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

Award

I am finally going to try and be good about posting awards I receive and giving them away.  So I'm sorry if I haven't accepted your award in the past - there was no real reason behind it besides not finding the time.  From now on I will do better - if you are kind enough to give me an award I will be thankful and post it on here.

So here goes my first one:

I received the Sugar Doll award from Katrina at Bloody Bad, whose blog I love, if you haven't checked her out - please do. She received the award from Pinkilili at Sandals and Snowshoes, who is new at blogging so head over there and say hi, remember what it was like when you were new?

The rules are list 10 things about yourself and you can pass it on or just paste it on your blog.

10 things about myself:

1. I still love to eat hot dogs and macaroni and cheese
2. I like to sing Cowboy by Kid Rock with my kids on the way to school in them morning (and they love it too - we use the edited version of course)
3. I love to sing when no one is around, when others are around I don't like to as much except with my kids in the car.  Right  now my favorite band is Daughtry.
4. I threaten my oldest son with blaring songs from a Veggie Tales CD when dropping him off at school in the morning (he's in third grade).  I know I'm evil.
5. I love young adult books and it's all the book bloggers' fault - I didn't read YA until I started reading blogs.  (seriously I'm glad they turned me on to it)
6. I love living on the coast of NC but rarely go to the beach.
7. I have happy meal toys on my desk at work.
8. I love NASCAR and pull for Tony Stewart (and anyone who doesn't drive for Hendricks motorsports)
9. I have a new Kindle that I never get to read from because I am busy reading books for review.
10. I love living near enough to my parents that they can be a part of my boys' life.  I love watching their love for their grandparents'.  It's special.

Five bloggers whose blogs I enjoy. Those who received this award can pass it on or just paste it on their blog.

1. A Reader's Respite
2. Ms. Bookish
3. What Was I Reading?
4. The Printed Page 
5. At Home With Books

Thank you Katrina for the award!

Value Fiction for your Spring Break - offered by Waterbrook Multinomah

Value Fiction For Your Spring Break

Waterbrook Multinomah Publishing Group

Fiction lovers don't need to budget to travel this spring break with Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group's six full-length novels by beloved Christian authors (WaterBrook, February 16, 2010). At the low cost of only $5.99, these well-read "get-aways" provide quality entertainment at a price that any reader can afford.

Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn - Jessica has moved to a new town to start a new life. But a friendly fire-fighter and a suspicious boss both want to know what she's hiding. 

Beneath a Southern Sky by Deborah Raney - Daria Camfield is expecting her first child when her husband Nate is reported dead on the mission field. Devastated, she returns to the States and soon marries again. But two years later Nate is found alive in the jungle. How can Daria possibly choose between he two men who love her? 

The Golden Cross by Angela Elwell Hunt - Aidan O'Connor may be a poor barmaid but she's also a gifted artists. When a famous cartographer takes her on as a student, Aidan is swept into an adventure that will bring her back to her heavenly Father, and into marriage with the love of her life. 

Deep Harbor by Lisa Tawn Bergren - Tora, Elsa, Kaatje, and Karl face trouble, tragedy, and treachery across the Wast, Hawaii, Japan, and the high seas. These four immigrants from Bergen, Norway, each grow closer to God and learn afresh the value of faith, family, and coming alongside each other in times of need. 

Faithful Heart by Al and Joanna Lacy - The adventures of certified medical nurse and dedicated Christian Breanna Baylor continue as she travels by wagon train to visit her sister, Dottie, in California. Little does she know that her most dangerous encounter might be with Jerrod, her brother-in-law, who's suffering from dementia caused by combat fatigue. 

Yesterday's Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin - Rogan Chantry faces danger from tribesmen, ruthless politicians, and his own family as he searches for gold in South Africa. In England, his beloved Evy is injured by a mysterious assailant. The greed and intrigue surrounding the diamond mines could very well drive them irrevocably apart.

  

For my part of the tour I received Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn and Yesterday's Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin.

I have just started reading both of these due to a very busy schedule at the moment, but I can say from what I have read so far that these titles are great values.  So far they contain wonderful stories that entertain and uplift.  I look forward to reading more of both books and then adding more of the spring value titles from Waterbrook Multinomah to my shelves.

I truly enjoy books that focus on the diamond mines in South Africa and all the dangers that surround this part of history so I am enjoying Yesterday's Promise.  And I adore those leave an old life behind and start a new life books like Secrets.

Looking for a taste of some popular Christian writers at great prices - then these books are for you.  Perfect for a spring break weekend, each of these books will provide hours of entertainment for just $5.99.

Thanks to Liz Johnson at Waterbrook Multinomah for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour and for sending me these books for review.