Month: April 2018

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The Story Peddler

What If You Had to lie for a living?

Tanwen is gifted at telling stories and weaves colorful tales about the godesses and King Gareth, crown-approved stories. In the end, her tales produce pretty crystal trinkets, which she sells. Her goal is to become the royal storyteller. There is a problem. Her stomach twitches as she tells these approved tales. Something about them about doesn’t quite ring true and threads of white light glitches out of her. The royal guards take notice. Tanwen’s cruel mentor abandons her. She returns home and is promptly kidnapped by a group who may very well be her salvation. Or until a bounty is placed on her head.

Pros

  • The imagery is gorgeous, especially how Tanwen’s stories spin colored threads into the crystal figurines related to the story she tells.
  • The Story Peddler is a Christian story and there are threads (pun intended) of this throughout although it’s not stated. I love that. Tanwen’s culture is based on godess worship, but she’s having doubts about their religion. Other characters come along and mention a solitary Creator.
  • There are some themes that will make for great inward reflection or good discussion topics for a book club or reading in class.
  • There isn’t a strong romance theme.

Cons

  • It took me a couple of chapters to feel fully engaged in the story.
  • There was a bit of drawing of information, especially related to Tanwen’s questions about her father.

Personal Opinion

I honestly didn’t get too engaged in the story at first. This is likely because straight up fantasy isn’t my favorite genre. Tanwen’s storytelling was intriguing. Once I got into the story, I was hooked and I really enjoyed it. This is a book I enjoyed more for theme than plot. One of the characters is literally going mad because she’s had to supress her talent. There’s a lot packed into the various characters’ backstories. It’s almost an ensemble cast even though the story is primarily told through Tanwen’s eyes. I like that. The book is well-written and the writing is creative and engaging. Also, there is so much to discuss, that this is a perfect book club read.

Discussion Questions

  1. Tanwen questions the truth in the stories she tells. What would you do if your job or school assignment forced you to lie?
  2. Tanwen has the chance to choose adventure or a stable life with Brac. Which would you choose and why?
  3. Braith must choose between honoring her father or doing what she thinks is right. What would you do if you had an immoral parent or authority figure in your life?
  4. Gryfelle’s health is suffering because she’s had to suppress your talent. How do you think this relates to using your gifts and talents to honor God?
  5. Are you Team Brac or Team Mor? Or do you like both or neither?
  6. What do you think of Cameria’s choice to serve King Gareth? [Answer this one after you’ve read the entire book]

Purchase Links

Amazon — Barnes & Noble — Books-A-Million — ChristianBook.com

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36327140-the-story-peddler

Giveaway Link & HTML

About the Author

Lindsay A. Franklin is an award-winning author, award-winning freelance editor, and homeschooling mom of three. She would wear pajama pants all the time if it were socially acceptable. She spends a lot of time in made-up worlds, and she’s passionate about sparking imagination through stories of infinite possibility. Her debut fantasy novel, The Story Peddler, releases in 2018. When she’s not exploring the fantastical, she’s exploring the Bible and encouraging young women through her devotional books (click here for more information on Adored).

Lindsay lives in her native San Diego with her husband (master of the dad joke), their awesomely nerdy kids, two thunder pillows (AKA cats), and a stuffed wombat with his own Instagram following (@therealwombatman). You can find Lindsay on social media, too, if Wombatman hasn’t hijacked all her accounts. She’s @LinzyAFranklin on Instagram and Twitter, and she Facebooks at www.facebook.com/LindsayAFranklin.

Email list sign-up link: http://eepurl.com/bwF64j

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, April 24th  

 

Wednesday, April 25th  

 

Thursday, April 26th  

 

Friday, April 27th  

 

Saturday, April 28th  

 

Monday, April 30th  

 

Tuesday, May 1st  

 

Wednesday, May 2nd  

 

 

 

Want to dive into a new world or in need of a good book? Use the link below to enter to win a signed print copy of The Story Peddler (not pictured), a blue strand book sleeve (not pictured), custom Story Peddler bookmark, a fluffhopper sticker, and a set of five mini Story Peddler art prints! (US only.)

 

Link: giveawaytools2.com/giveaway.php?sk=57705600234

Facebook Party Information

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/162545804573276/

 

Calling all book readers! Join authors Lindsay A. Franklin and Sara Ella to celebrate the releases of their novels, The Story Peddler and Unbreakable, on May 1st!

Grab your favorite drink and snack and be prepared for a fun time of chatting with Lindsay and Sara, games, and giveaways.

The party starts at 8 PM EST (7 PM CST and 5 PM PST). Can’t wait to see you there!

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Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

I read this Newbery winner when I was in junior high school. Ordinarily, I didn’t go for man-against-nature type of stories. I didn’t go for a novel told in first person present tense. But Island of the Blue Dolphins featured a girl who had to survive totally alone on her island. And when the author introduced a dog? I was hooked.

In order to review Scott O’Dell’s masterpiece, I read the book again.  I now appreciate the story even more than when I was a kid. And would you believe it? The Author’s Note at the end provides a Big Reveal which I never bothered to read when I was twelve. Boy, did I miss out! It took many years into adulthood to realize other portions of a book can be interesting as the novel itself.

This is what I missed the first time around: Island of the Blue Dophins is based on a true story. The island really exists, named San Nicolas, not far off the coast of southern California. A girl really did live alone on the island for eighteen years from 1835 to 1853. She was known as The Lost Woman of San Nicolas and is buried near the Santa Barbara Mission. If I had known this, I would have been begging my parents to take a vacation to California, and the book would have made my Top Five.

Synopsis

Aleuts and Russians visit Karana’s island, over hunt the otter, and break the trade agreement with her tribe.  When her people object, the Aleuts kill most of the men. The new chief decides they should move to a new country, but Karana, at the tender of age of twelve, is accidentally left behind. She knows they will not be able to come back for her until the next summer. However, she has learned survival skills. She is sure she can make it through the winter.

Summers continue to pass, and no one returnsr. How she thrives as the solitary human on her island becomes the fascination of the story. She builds a new home and makes sure it is well-provisioned. She gathers food and makes weapons to defend herself against wild dogs. She befriends the wounded leader of the pack, who remains her faithful companion. After many years, a new ship arrives to rescue her.

Pros

  1. Children who enjoy nonfiction books will like this fiction book as they see how Karana tames animals, gathers food, and fashions tools that she can use to survive.
  2. Children who enjoy fiction will love how Karana builds relationships with animals and accepts friendship from a girl of the enemy camp.
  3. Karana’s courage is amazing and without bravado. She takes each day at a time and doesn’t waste hours feeling sorry for herself. She doggedly survives. Kids will recognize what an admirable character she is.

Cons

  1. Today’s editors would not be happy with the fact that there is no huge climax. Instead,  Karana grows up by herself, she learns to adapt and practice skills traditionally reserved for the men of her tribe, and she accepts the help of strangers when given the opportunity to join civilization once again.
  2. At no time is there a huge “aha” moment, although she slowly accepts the fact that no one is coming for her. She is content to live alone.

Discussion Questions

  1. What quality to you admire most about Karana?
  2. How was Karana different from her little brother Ramo?
  3. Why did Karana choose to never kill otters or seals or dogs again?
  4. What do we call the “devil fish?”

Conclusion

Island of the Blue Dolphins is one of those ageless stories. Adults and children alike will find something new to love with every read.

 

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It’s Addicting by Laura L. Smith

 

It’s Addicting by Laura L. Smith is the third book in the Status Updates series, suitable for ages sixteen and up. Check out Kathrese McKee’s review of the series’ first book, It’s Complicated, and my review of the second installment, It’s Over. Again, I’m placing book #3 in both the Young Adult and New Adult categories.

Synopsis:

Obsessing over status, grades, exercise or a boyfriend could never become an addiction…could it? The third installment of the Status Updates series finds four college sophomore roommates finally getting comfy with the routines of dorm life. But Kat, Claire, Palmer, and Hannah soon begin to feel the nagging ache of innocent addictions pulling them away from their true selves. Hang out with these four roomies to see if they can–or even want to–ditch these sneaky little hang-ups before they take over their lives.

Pros:

  • As I gushed about in the review of It’s Over, this is Christian New Adult. Proof positive that New Adult fiction can (and should!) be so much more than sexed-up YA. Kudos to Laura L. Smith for taking on the nay-sayers and creating a realisitic NA series that is clean.
  • The real world greets the roommates as each branches out into her own niche. THE REAL WORLD. No sanitized Christian fiction here. Yet nothing explicit, excessive, or gratuitous, either.
  • I liked how the roomies depended on each other, but each moved forward pursuing their unique talents and interest, going in different directions but remaining solid friends.
  • About that friendship. It wouldn’t be “real life” if potholes didn’t spring up along the friendship journey. They do but no spoilers here.
  • They faced realistic “addictions”. The kind every college student will stumble upon. The true power of fiction is revealed when readers see themselves between the covers of a book and find hope and inspiration for tackling their own life issues. It’s Addicting hits that mark.

Cons: 

  • If situations involving alcohol concern you, be alerted underage drinking occurs. But it is in no way gratuitous or excessive. Rather, it’s extremely reality-based and fitting to the story. Actually, to me this is a “pro” rather than a “con”. The temptation to drink is HUGE for college-aged kids. What a perfect opportunity for parents and and heading-to-college teenagers to discuss this issue together.

Personal thoughts:

This was my favorite of the series so far. I’m a huge fan of realistic contemporary Christian YA/NA fiction because I believe in the power of story to transform lives. As noted on her website, Laura writes “real stories for real girls”. And that she does. Way to go, Laura! Will there be a book #4 in the Status Updates Series? My vote–if I get one–is YES.

Discussion questions:

  • Which of the addictions the girls faced can you most identify with?
  • Which issue do you think you would be/are the most vulnerable to?
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The Milk of Birds by Sylvia Whitman

 

When a tree leans, it will rest on its sister.

Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old NAWRA from Darfur lives in a camp for refugees displaced by the Janjaweed’s trail of murder and destruction. She can’t read or write but when an organization called “Save the Girls” pairs her with a girl in the states, she gets her best friend to be her scribe her thoughts and experiences.

K.C., an American teen in Virginia hates reading and writing. But when she receives letters  from Nawra she is forced to look beyond her own struggles.

Through the letters the girls form a bond that bridges two continents. Both girls find that strength is found in numbers and together they can fight for a brighter future.

Pros:

  • informative book about the atrocities of Darfur
  • Nawra and her experience in Darfur are very relatable
  • addresses issues of learning issues and how it doesn’t mean a person isn’t intelligent just because they don’t learn like everyone else.

Cons:

  • I found the character of K.C. was written a little stilted (stereotypical teenager)
  • there is rape in the book however the author doesn’t dwell on the details of it.

Conclusion:

I was instantly attracted by the cover and the saying on the front cover of this book. It is a book full of rich details about Darfur. It did keep my turning the page although I often found K.C. to be not as full of a character compared to Nawra. If you have teens who want to know more about world affairs and how they can help this is a great book.

Discussion Questions:

There are reading group questions inside. 🙂