Author: Gretchen Engel

In high school, Gretchen E K Engel competed to write her English teacher’s favorite essays and earn highest marks in physics. Science won over the arts, and Gretchen became a chemical engineer. An environmental consultant by day and speculative fiction writer by night, she has authored hundreds of technical documents and several short stories.
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The Electrical Menagerie by Mollie Reeder

Fans of The Greatest Showman will love The Electrical Menagerie

I kind of fell in love with Sylvester and Huxley and the story world. I read an ARC of The Electrical Menageries, and when the blog tour sign ups came around, I raised my hand. I’m not one for rereading books but The Electrical Menagerie is one I’ve already read twice and will likely read again.

Synopsis

The Electrical Menagerie, one-of-a-kind robotic roadshow, is bankrupt.

Sylvester Carthage, illusionist and engineer, has the eccentric imagination the Menagerie needs to succeed creatively — but none of the people skills. Fast-talking Arbrook Huxley, meanwhile, has all the savvy the Menagerie needs to succeed commercially — but none of the scruples.

To save their show, Carthage & Huxley risk everything in a royal talent competition, vying for the chance to perform for the Future Celestial Queen. In this stardust-and-spark-powered empire of floating islands and flying trains, a shot at fame and fortune means weathering the glamorous and cutthroat world of critics, high society, and rival magicians —but with real conspiracy lurking beneath tabloid controversy, there’s more at stake in this contest than the prize.

Behind the glittery haze of flash paper and mirrors, every competitor has something to hide… and it’s the lies Carthage & Huxley tell each other that may cost them everything.

Pros

  • Sylvester and Huxley are interesting characters; I love that Sylvester is in his 40s and Huxley in his 20s. This aspect reminded me of The Greatest Showman as did the premise of a struggling circus. Fans of the musical will enjoy this book
  • Great world building with islands in space, stardust, and magic
  • The electrical characters, trains, and other inventions are fascinating
  • There is no sexual content beyond a kiss
  • Action is exciting but not violent
  • Overall it’s a clean read for all age levels

Cons

  • No cons based on the story itself – it’s a tight story with great pacing, interesting characters and story world
  • There is murder and crime
  • One character gets drugged and there is some alcohol use by the main characters; drunkenness and drugs are not glorified
  • The characters lie and conceal their pasts

Discussion Questions

  1. Sylvester had a crippling illness as a child. How do you think his childhood and adolescence affected his outlook on life as an adult?
  2. How do you think Huxley’s upbringing affected his outlook on life as an adult?
  3. If you could have an electrical, what would you choose a performer, a companion, or a worker?
  4. Which of the other acts did you think sounded the coolest (you can’t choose the electrical menagerie)?
  5. Which character did you identify with the most?
  6. How do you think Sylvester’s health will come to play in the sequel?
  7.  How do you think Huxley’s past will factor into the sequel?

 

 Purchase Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Electrical-Menagerie-Celestial-Isles-Book-ebook/dp/B07D5TM5VS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39719906-the-electrical-menagerie

 

About the Author

Mollie Reeder

Mollie’s first job was with a major theme park, where she operated a roller coaster, fixed parade floats, and helped Scooby-Doo put on his head. Now, Mollie is a movie producer and the author of character-driven science fiction/fantasy novels for adults who never outgrew imagination. Her favorite things include Jesus, dinosaurs, and telling cinematic stories that blend glitter and grit.

Social Media Links

Website — Twitter — Instagram

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Geekerella by Ashley Poston

A Fairy Tale Retelling Set in the World of Geek Culture and Cons

A Cinderella retelling for fans of geek culture. Cinderella has always been one of my favorite fairy tales. I remember seeing it in the theatre as a little girl. The 2015 version ranks as one of my top three all-time favorite movies. Geekerella is a retelling set in the world of science fiction fandoms.

I’m also a geek or rather GEKE. Literally, those are my initials, so I absolutely, no questions asked, had to read (or in this case listen to) Geekerella.

Synopsis

Danielle (Elle) is an orphan being raised by her stepmother and twin step sisters. They’re country club popular girls and pretty. Their summers are filled with tennis lessons and lunches at the club. Elle works in a vegan food truck painted like a giant pumpking with the eccentric Sage and writes a blog about the science fiction cult hit Starfield, a show that connects Elle to her late parents.

Darien is best known for his hot body and the character he plays on a teen soap opera. But under his buff exterior beats the heart of a geek who escapes his overbearing father, a fixture among the Hollywood elite and his absentee socialite mother.

Darien is cast as Federation Prince Carmindor in the Starfield reboot. On a morning show, he throws the answer to a trivia question so he can be dunked in a dunk tank and rip off his shirt. He is angry about how he’s being portrayed and refuses to do a “meet and greet” at an upcoming convention. In anger, he texts the venue coordinator, Elle’s late father. Elle, who has inherited her dad’s phone receives his texts.

Elle and Darien survive their very different summers through an ongoing relationship through texts focused around their mutual love of Starfield with neither one knowing the other’s identity. The story unwinds with classic Cinderella elements, in this case destroyed cosplay costumes and a leaky attic. But add the drama of a Hollywood set and gives nearly equal time to the prince’s story, not unlike the 2015 movie that shows more of Kit’s life along with Ella’s.

Pros

  • It’s a fun and funny twist on the classic fairytale
  • Individuality and “being yourself” are treated as virtues
  • The characters evolve and learn to stand up for themselves
  • There’s a strong message about standing up for others
  • Elle and Darien both learn to overcome their fears
  • The characters are fun and unique
  • There is no sexual content; nothing beyond hand holding and kissing
  • Violence is limited to punches and movie stunts
  • Elle and Darien for the most part honor their unreasonable step-parents/parents and generally show respect to other adults who don’t reciprocate

Cons

  • There is some swearing. I’m not one to really count up instances but maybe in the dozen range of objectionable words like s***. There may some inappropriate uses of God’s name but if so, it’s not frequent
  • A couple of the supporting characters are homosexual, which may be offensive to some; they don’t do anything more than hold hands
  • It is implied that 18-year-old Darien sips/drinks a glass of champagne in celebration
  • The characters sneak around parents and lie
  • From a craft standpoint, I thought the tension between Elle and her stepmother wasn’t developed enough. The same with Darien and his absentee mother. There were some hints that maybe there was more to her dad’s story but then it pulled back. A couple of other back stories didn’t feel fully developed either
  • One of the things about Darien and Federation Prince Carmindor was that they were people of color; I personally found it frustrating that there was no hint beyond that he had dark curly hair and brown skin. Maybe that was the point, but I would have liked to have known a bit more about his ethnic heritage so I could better picture him. The same for Elle. I could have sworn she made a comment she was overweight at the beginning of the story and nothing more was mentioned of her size other than she is short. Ditto with her glasses. I’m not sure her much-needed glasses are mentioned until the later chapters.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you have a favorite fandom?
  2. Would it bother you if a “pretty boy” or “it girl” were cast in roles you see reserved for “true fans”?
  3. What do you think about how Elle and Darien handled having difficult and often unreasonable parents?
  4. Would you rather have Elle or Darien’s life?
  5. Did Cal’s evolution surprise you?
  6. If you could go to a con, who would you dress up as?
  7. What do you think Elle and Darien look like?

Conclusion

Geekerella is a humorous retelling and a light YA read I’d recommend to teens who love fairy tale retellings and/or geek culture. The book was written in 2017 and is on point with the current culture. However, I think this book will be dated fairly soon. I give the book 3.7 stars. It’s not quite an awesome 4 or 5 star book but is one I’d consider checking out of the library again to listen to. What can I say, I’m a sucker for Cinderella stories and geeky heroes and heroines.

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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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Killing England – The Brutal Struggle for American Independence

https://www.amazon.com/Killing-England-Struggle-American-Independence-ebook/dp/B06XFGWZZ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515043460&sr=8-1&keywords=killing+england+bill+o%27reilly

A Broad Perspective of the Era of the Revolutionary War

Killing England – The Brutal Struggle for American Independence is an excellent historical account of the Reagan Era. While the other books in this series that have been reviewed, Killing Jesus and Killing Lincoln, have been rated as suitable for middle grade up. Like Killing Patton, and Killing The Rising Sun, and Killing Kennedy,  Killing England should be categorized as new adult because the book was not written for children. There is mature content in Killing England although lacking the crude language found in Killing Reagan and Killing Kennedy. Like Killing Patton and Killing the Rising Sun there is content that is not appropriate for younger and more sensitive readers, however, there is less violence in this book. There is some sexual innuendo including allusions to homosexuality of a minor historical figure as well as adultery.

Pros

The book offered a broad view of the political climate surrounding the era of the Revolutionary War. The authors detailed the years that led up to the Revolutionary War including the French and Indian War, taxation without representation, and other factors that necessitated the Colonies to seek independence from England. The stakes were high for those who would be essentially traitors to England.

The authors also introduce the readers to various key historical figures from America and England as well as France, and Germany. As with the previous books, the biographical details of the various people are what makes these books so engaging.

Cons

As previously mentioned, there is some adult content primarily regarding adultery, homosexuality, and other sexual exploits of various figures. It might be a bit nitpicky but some details seemed to be a bit gratuitous and inserted for political correctness, entertainment, or to make the book a bit more “racy” but didn’t add to the narrative. I do appreciate that other than Benjamin Franklin, who was quite a character, none of the other Founding Fathers were besmirched.

Rating

4 Stars. Overall, Killing England is well-written and engaging. Unlike the other “Killing” books, I gave it only 4 stars on the content and execution. New Adult allows for a bit more mature content so I didn’t subtract points for this. As with the other books in the series, the historical details especially about the social and political climate of the time are the highlight of this book. However, I felt this book was not quite as engaging as the others. My husband and I listened to the audiobook. The narrator has an engaging voice. I suggest reading or listening to the book before deciding if it’s appropriate for your children, students, etc.

Personal Opinion

We have listened to all of the O’Reilly-Dugard “Killing” books and like the others offers fantastic insight into the social and political climate at the time. However, this one did not carry 5-star rating even though the writing quality and level of detail are the same, it was not quite as engaging. There are some situations described that might be objectionable to some people.  In that regard, the content is on par with Killing Patton and Killing the Rising Sun.

Discussion points for parents & teachers:

  1. What did you learn about pre-Revolutionary War America?
  2. Discuss the risks our Founding Fathers took when deciding to declare independence.
  3. Who would you like to learn more about after reading this book?
  4. Act out or debate with one side being the Colonies and the other being England.
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Hillbilly Elegy

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance Photo: Amazon.com
Hillbilly Elegy is the biography of man raised in poverty who overcame adversity to graduate from Yale law school.
 

Synopsis

J.D. Vance is the grandchild of hillbillies from Kentucky who emigrated to Ohio with the promise of good jobs in a steel mill. He was raised by a single mother with addictions and a string of failed relationships. A feisty grandmother kept J.D. from being a statistic of working class white families throughout our country. Instead of ending up in a cycle of poverty, addiction, and abusive relationships, J.D. is a success story. He deferred a college education to enlist in the Marine Corps and graduated from Ohio State in 2.5 years while working sometimes three jobs. He entered the Ivy League as a Yale law student. Now equipped with a good job and happily married to a Yale law classmate, J.D. is an inspiration and mentor to future generations of at risk youth. Hillbilly Elegy is his story.

Pros:

  • No matter where you stand politically, you need to read Hillbilly Elegy.
  • The story is inspiring and eye-opening to the plight of the white working class. While this demographic takes heat as receiving “white privilege”, they do not share many of its advantages.
  • Hillbilly Elegy is a frank and often raw portrayal of what it’s like to grow up poor and white in Midwestern America.
  • J.D. offers a perspective that rises above political talking points. He is an admitted conservative. But the book offers both praise and criticism to all sides of the issues of poverty, opportunity, and how to give all Americans the opportunity to succeed. As a result, it’s never a diatribe against the other side or propaganda for his side of the argument.

Cons:

  • Not exactly a “con” as much as a disclaimer. Hillbilly Elegy is a New Adult book. The subject matter is not appropriate for younger audiences. Not only because of the raw language/innuendo (see other con) but because the subject matter is best for older teens and adults with good critical thinking skills. This is a book that screams for self-assessment/discussion afterwards. Consequently, it’s not light reading.
  • There is a lot of rough language including numerous F-bombs. The language is never gratuitous except maybe a chapter later in the book. The author coaches himself through a social situation with “elites” by telling himself several times to not be an “A******”. I listened to the author read the book. The language may not be as jarring in print. But there is enough that I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5.
  •  Really, the language was the only negative

Recommended Audience:

In conclusion, I would recommend Hillbilly Elegy to adults and mature teens. This is not a book to read for entertainment’s sake, but one to offer insight into the problems plaguing the working class in America. Most of all, there’s a hopelessness and desperation in this community as well as broken families, addiction, a cycle of poverty, and waning opportunities.

Final Word:

This was a deeply personal book for me. I went through most of my life oblivious to those suffering around me. As a result, It’s not often  a book sucker punches me with such self-awareness.

The first day of my professional life began in J.D.’s hometown (Middletown, OH). My trainer described himself as “a Tennessee Ridge Runner” (i.e. hillbilly from Tennessee). I reflected on that time. Did J.D. walk by me? A faceless tween in the public library. At the time, I didn’t care about students in a crumbling steel town. My goal to learn what I needed and move onward and upward in the company.

Before then, I was raised in a city not too different from Middletown, OH, I was a middle class kid surrounded by working class peers. I think back to my school days and wonder which of my classmates grew up like J.D. I’m sure some went to bed hungry. Some likely hid from abusive parents. Or played grownup because their parents were addicts or absent. As a student, I was long on ambition and low on empathy.

As an adult, I’m can see how privileged we are and try to pass that insight onto my children. I want to help those in my community who I think might have it a bit harder than the rest. After reading this, I’m even more inspired to look for ways to mentor the J.D.s of this generation. 

 Discussion Questions
 
  1. Do you believe in “white privilege”?
  2. What are obstacles poor white people have in common with minorities in a similar situation?
  3. Think about a child in J.D.’s situation and brainstorm ways you could help a child like him.
  4. How do you think as a country we can help improve the lives of the working class?
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Killing Reagan – The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency

https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Reagan-Violent-Assault-Presidenc/dp/1410482596/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1502337439&sr=8-1

Killing Reagan – The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency

Engaging Account of the Reagan Era

Killing Reagan – The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency is an excellent historical account of the Reagan Era. While the other books in this series that have been reviewed, Killing Jesus and Killing Lincoln, have been rated as suitable for middle grade up. Like Killing Patton, and Killing The Rising Sun, and Killing Kennedy,  Killing Reagan should be categorized as new adult because the book was not written for children. There is more mature content in Killing Reagan. Like Killing Kennedy there is language and content that is not appropriate for younger and more sensitive readers. Along with this, there are some graphic descriptions although less than in the WWII based books. Another aspect is the sexual innuendo and exploits of President Reagan and others surrounding him, although there is significantly less sexual content than what was in Killing Kennedy.

Pros

Killing Reagan goes into detail about the life of Ronald Reagan from his Midwestern upbringing through his film career and later political career.  O’Reilly and Dugard go into great detail about the political and social climate of the 1960s through the 1980s, specifically Reagan’s transformation from FDR-era Democrat to fiery anti-communist Republican. The rise and fall of the Soviet Union and the transition of nations behind the Iron Curtain from communism feature into the latter part of the book.

The book focuses President Reagan, Nancy Reagan, the Reagan childre, key political leaders including his friendship and political alliance with Margaret Thatcher as well as John Hinkley who attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan to gain the attention of the actress Jodie Foster. The premise of the book is going into detail of President Reagan’s presidency and whether or not the trauma of the assassination attempt affected his mental acuity during his presidency and how it might have accelerated his battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Robert Petkoff instead of Bill O’Reilly narrates the audio version of Killing Reagan, and I highly recommend it. He is an excellent narrator and does a good job of including the footnotes to make them fit seamlessly into the text.

Cons

There are a few, which is why I categorized Killing Reagan as New Adult. More tame than Killing Kennedy, there was some questionable content, including an incident with a young actress in Reagan’s past. There are some swear words, innuendo, coarse language, crude behavior, and discussion of extramarital affairs. While not graphic, this makes the content more mature. This book is less graphic with respect to President Reagan’s injury than what was in Killing Kennedy, Killing Patton, or Killing the Rising Sun.

Rating

3.5 Stars. Overall, Killing the Rising Sun is well-written and engaging. Like the other “Killing” books, it rates 5 stars on the content and execution. New Adult allows for a bit more mature content, but even with this caveat, there is a fair amount of coarse language, behavior, and innuendo, even more than in the WWII based books. As with the other books in the series, the historical details especially about the social and political climate of the time are the highlight of this book. My husband and I listened to the audiobook. Bill O’Reilly narrates and has an engaging voice. However, I suggest reading or listening to the book before deciding if it’s appropriate for your children, students, etc.

Personal Opinion

We have listened to all of the O’Reilly-Dugard “Killing” books, and this is the fifth in my series on these books because I think each of them offers fantastic insight into the social and political climate at the time. However, this one did not carry 5-star ratings even though the writing quality and level of detail are the same. I would not call this book family friendly due to some objectionable content cited above. There is some language and situations described that might be objectionable to some people.

Discussion points for parents & teachers:

  1. What did you know about President Reagan? Did your opinion of him and his actions change after reading this book?
  2. What did you know about Nancy Reagan? Did your opinion of her change after reading this book?
  3. List admirable traits of the Reagan marriage.
  4. Were there some dysfunctional elements to the Reagan marriage and how they raised their children?
  5. Name some good things about President Reagan?
  6. What were some of President Reagan’s character flaws?
  7. Most people reading this book will remember the Reagan era. Describe what you thought about politics at that time.
  8. Do you remember where you were when the Challenger exploded?
  9. If you grew up during the Cold War, did the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of a divided Germany and the USSR surprise you?

Parents will appreciate the historical account of this time in history. For teachers and librarians there are so many great topics that can springboard from this book.

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Killing Kennedy – The End of Camelot

Killing Kennedy on Amazon.com

Killing Kennedy – The End of Camelot

Killing Kennedy – The End of Camelot is an excellent historical account of the Kennedy administration . While the other books in this series that have been reviewed, Killing Jesus and Killing Lincoln, have been rated as suitable for middle grade up. Like Killing Patton and Killing The Rising Sun should categorized as new adult because the book was not written for children. There is more mature content in Killing Kennedy. There is language and content that is not appropriate for younger and more sensitive readers. Along with this, there are some violent and graphic description. Another aspect is the sexual innuendo and exploits of President Kennedy and others surrounding him.

Pros

Killing Kennedy goes into detail about the Kennedy administration including  behind the image of Camelot and the powerful Kennedy family.  O’Reilly and Dugard go into great detail about the political and social climate of the early 1960s including civil rights and the cold war.

The book focuses not only on President Kennedy and his family but also Lee Harvey Oswald and the planned assassination of the President. The premise of the book is going into detail of the Kennedy. Robert Petkoff instead of Bill O’Reilly narrates the audio version of Killing Kennedy, and I highly recommend it. He is an excellent narrator and does a good job of including the footnotes to make them fit seamlessly into the text.

Cons

There are a few, which is why I categorized Killing Kennedy as New Adult. President Kennedy and other historical figures of the time were colorful characters. With this there are some swear words, innuendo, coarse language, crude behavior, and discussion of extramarital affairs. While not graphic, this makes the content more mature. This book goes into graphic detail of Kennedy’s assassination that might bother some sensitive readers or listeners. However, it is less graphic than Killing Patton or Killing the Rising Sun.

Rating

3.5 Stars. Overall, Killing the Rising Sun is well-written and engaging. Like the other “Killing” books, it rates 5 stars on the content and execution. New Adult allows for a bit more mature content, but even with this caveat, there is a fair amount of coarse language, behavior, and innuendo, even more than in the WWII based books. As with the other books in the series, the historical details especially about the social and political climate of the time are the highlight of this book. My husband and I listened to the audiobook. Bill O’Reilly narrates and has an engaging voice. However, I suggest reading or listening to the book before deciding if it’s appropriate for your children, students, etc.

Personal Opinion

We have listened to all of the O’Reilly-Dugard “Killing” books, and this is the fifth in my series on these books because I think each of them offers fantastic insight into the social and political climate at the time. However, this one did not carry 5-star ratings even though the writing quality and level of detail are the same. I would not call this book family friendly due to some objectionable content cited above. There is some language and situations described that might be objectionable to some people.

Discussion points for parents & teachers:

  1. What did you know about President Kennedy? Did your opinion of him and his actions change after reading this book?
  2. What did you know about Jackie Kennedy? Did your opinion of her change after reading this book?
  3. Were you familiar with the Kennedy family dynasty and Camelot? If not, what did you learn?
  4. Name some good things about President Kennedy?
  5. Name some of President Kennedy’s character flaws?
  6. Discuss civil rights at this time versus the current racial situation in this country.
  7. Discuss the Cold War and communism compared to the current war in the Middle East and terrorism from radical Islam.

Parents will appreciate the historical account of this time in history. For teachers and librarians there are so many great topics that can springboard from this book.

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Killing the Rising Sun

Killing The Rising Sun

Killing The Rising Sun is an excellent historical account of the Pacific theatre during WWII. While the other books in this series that have been reviewed, Killing Jesus and Killing Lincoln, have been rated as suitable for middle grade up. Like Killing Patton, Killing The Rising Sun should categorized as new adult because the book was not written for children.There is a bit more mature content in Killing the Rising Sun. There is some language and content that is not appropriate for younger and more sensitive readers. Along with this, the violence and graphic descriptions, especially with respect to the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Pros

Killing the Rising Sun goes into detail about the end of WWII, particularly the Pacific theatre. General Douglas MacArthur, President Truman, the end of WWII, specifically the sinking of the Indianapolis, the siege on Okinawa, and dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the focus. O’Reilly and Dugard go into great detail to put General Douglas MacArthur’s military career, particularly his role in the Pacific theatre.

The book focuses not only on General MacArthur but also President Truman and the difficult decision to drop the atomic bomb. The premise of the book is that the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan wasn’t an easy one but considered the option that would save the most lives of both the Allied soldiers and Japanese civilians. Robert Petkoff instead of Bill O’Reilly narrates the audio version of Killing the Rising Sun, and I highly recommend it. He is an excellent narrator and does a good job of including the footnotes to make them fit seamlessly into the text.

Cons

There are a few, which is why I categorized Killing the Rising Sun as New Adult. There are several colorful characters. With this there are some swear words, innuendo, coarse language, and discussion of extramarital affairs are discussed. While not graphic, this makes the content more mature. This is a book set during a long and bloody war that might bother some sensitive readers or listeners. Even compared to Killing Patton, Killing the Rising Sun is even more graphic. The damage from the atomic bombs is described. While not gratuitous, it doesn’t shy away from description. The same goes for the sinking of the Indianapolis and the siege of Okinawa.

Rating

4 Stars. Overall, Killing the Rising Sun is well-written and engaging. Like Killing Jesus and Killing Lincoln, the book rates 5 stars on the content and execution. New Adult allows for a bit more mature content, but even with this caveat, there is some coarse language and innuendo, even more than in Killing Patton. As with the other books in the series, the historical details are the highlight of this book. My husband and I listened to the audiobook. Robert Petkoff narrates and has an engaging voice. However, I suggest reading or listening to the book before deciding if it’s appropriate for your children, students, etc.

Personal Opinion

We have listened to all of the O’Reilly-Dugard “Killing” books, and this is the fourth in my series on these books because I think each of them offers fantastic insight into the social and political climate at the time. However, not all will carry 5-star ratings even though the writing quality and level of detail are the same. This is the first one that I would not call entirely family friendly due to some objectionable content cited above. There is some language that might be objectionable to some people. Battles, extramarital affairs, and the brutality of war are discussed. There is some innuendo/coarse language mostly in the context of quotes and correspondence.

Discussion points for parents & teachers:

  1. What did you know about Harry Truman? Did your opinion of him and his actions change after reading this book?
  2. What did you know about General MacArthur? Did your opinion of him and his actions change after reading this book?
  3. Did you learn something new about General MacArthur?
  4. Name some good things about General MacArthur?
  5. Name some of General MacArthur’s character flaws?
  6. Did you learn anything new about Hirhito?
  7. List some things about Imperial Japan that are different from the United States.
  8. Discuss the decision to use the atomic bomb.

Parents will appreciate the historical account of this time in history. For teachers and librarians there are so many great topics that can springboard from this book.

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Killing Patton by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Patton-Strange-Audacious-General-ebook/dp/B00JYZAPXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487908102&sr=8-1&keywords=killing+patton+by+bill+o%27reilly

Killing Patton

Killing Patton is an excellent historical account of the European theatre during WWII. While the other books in this series that have been reviewed, Killing Jesus and Killing Lincoln, have been rated as suitable for middle grade up, this book should categorized as new adult because the book was not written for children. I rated the previous ones as Young Adult, however, there is a bit more mature content in Killing Patton. There is some language and content that is not appropriate for younger and more sensitive readers.

Pros

Killing Patton goes into detail about the end of WWII, particularly the European theatre. The Battle of the Bulge, the last days of Hitler’s regime, FDR’s death, and the car accident that killed Patton are the focus. O’Reilly and Dugard go into great detail to put George S. Patton’s military career, particularly his role in the Battle of the Bulge and less on his role in the North African theatre. The book focuses on the life, relationships: personal, family, romantic, and professional of General Patton. The premise of the book is that the car crash that ultimately killed General Patton may not have been an accident but an assassination attempt. The story isn’t told as much as a murder mystery as much as a character study in the enigmatic general. Bill O’Reilly narrates the audio version of Killing Patton, and I highly recommend it.

Cons

There are a few, which is why I categorized Killing Patton as New Adult . If you’ve ever seen the Academy Award Winning Patton starring George C. Scott, you will know that General Patton was a colorful character. With this there are some swear words, innuendo, and coarse language. Extramarital affairs of General Patton, FDR, etc. are discussed. While not graphic, this makes the content more mature. This is a book set during a long and bloody war, there are some descriptions of wounds etc. that might bother some sensitive readers or listeners.

Rating

4.5 Stars. Overall, Killing Patton is well-written and engaging. Like Killing Jesus and Killing Lincoln, the book rates 5 stars on the content and execution. New Adult allows for a bit more mature content, but even with this caveat, there is some coarse language and innuendo. As with the other books in the series, the historical details are the highlight of this book. My husband and I listened to the audiobook. Bill O’Reilly narrates and has an engaging voice. However, I suggest reading or listening to the book before deciding if it’s appropriate for your children, students, etc.

Personal Opinion

We have listened to all of the O’Reilly-Dugard “Killing” books, and this is the third in my series on these books because I think each of them offers fantastic insight into the social and political climate at the time. However, not all will carry 5-star ratings even though the writing quality and level of detail are the same. This is the first one that I would not call entirely family friendly due to some objectionable content cited above. There is some language that might be objectionable to some people. Battles, Hitler’s suicide, FDR, and General Patton’s extramarital affairs are discussed. There is some innuendo/coarse language mostly in the context of quotes and correspondence.

Discussion points for parents & teachers:

  1. What did you know about FDR? Did your opinion of him and his actions change after reading this book?
  2. What did you know about General Eisenhower? Did your opinion of him and his actions change after reading this book?
  3. What did you know about Winston Churchhill? Did your opinion of him and his actions change after reading this book?
  4. Did you know much about General Patton before you read this book? What was something about him that you learned?
  5. What do you think were some good things about General Patton?
  6. What do you think were some of General Patton’s character flaws?
  7. Did you learn anything new about Adolf Hitler?
  8. Did you learn anything new about Nazi Germany?
  9. Do you think General Patton’s car accident was really an accident or do you think someone tried to hit his car on purpose?

Parents will appreciate the historical account of this time in history. For teachers and librarians there are so many great topics that can springboard from this book.

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Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

 

Killing Lincoln

Killing Lincoln is an excellent historical account of the time surrounding the end of the Civil War. While it’s suitable for middle grade up, it should be categorized as young adult because the book was not written for children.

Pros

Killing Lincoln goes into detail about the end of the Civil War. O’Reilly and Dugard go into great detail to put Lincoln’s assassination into historical context. The best part was the details about John Wilkes Booth, his co-conspirators, and what they did before and after the assassination. Bill O’Reilly narrates the audio version of Killing Lincoln, and I highly recommend it.

Cons

Not too many. Really sensitive children might be troubled by the details of Lincoln’s injury and the broken leg John Wilkes Booth sustained. While not overly graphic, both are rather detailed. Blogger’s note: when I went to Ford’s Theater and saw the suit Lincoln wore, I nearly passed out, so I might be a bit on the squeamish side. Because of the nature of assassinations, this might preclude families from listening to the audio version or allowing sensitive readers to read this book until they can handle this aspect. There is minimal,  if any unsuitable language. There may be a couple of minor oaths and/or racial slurs in the context of quotes and correspondence.

Rating

5 Stars. Overall, Killing Lincoln is well-written and engaging. Most of all, the istorical details are the highlight of this book are fascinating. My husband and I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend. Bill O’Reilly narrates and has an engaging voice.

Personal Opinion

We have listened to all of the O’Reilly-Dugard “Killing” books, and this is the second in my series on these books because I think each of them offers fantastic insight into the social and political climate at the time. However, not all will carry 5-star ratings even though the writing quality and level of detail are the same. Not all are family friendly due to varying degrees of objectionable content especially in the books covering more recent events.

Discussion points for parents & teachers:

  1. Discuss some of the difficult decisions President Lincoln had to make. Would you have made the same choice?
  2. John Wilkes Booth came from a prominent family and his brother was the equivalent of a famous movie star. What it might have been like to grow up like this?
  3. Put yourself in the place of a Confederate after their side lost
  4. Discuss the challenges faced by newly freed slaves.
  5. Consider some of the problems the Union faced reuniting the country.
  6. General Ulysses S. Grant
  7. General Robert E. Lee
  8. Jefferson Davis
  9. Secretary of State Seward and other political leaders of the time
  10. The Lincoln Family
  11. The conspirators

Parents will appreciate the historical account of this time in history. For teachers and librarians there are so many great topics that can springboard from this book.