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CHILDREN’S FICTION
avoid eating them, so when he finds a few
leftover garbanzo beans, his absolute worst
vegetable, in his pocket, he decides to toss them
in the quickly filling drawer. What happens
when the money in the drawer turns up missing,
and Jason helps a friend win a Sunday School
contest, comprise the climax to this entertaining
story.
Beverly Lewis has once again entertained her
readers without being overly preachy. It is
hoped that her editor will correct the spelling of
Galatians on page 44 in future editions. Other
than that it is a good read.
Judy Driscoll, Retired Teacher, Poulsbo, Washington
The captain’s hat, by Anita Williams;
illustrated by Timothy Banks. LCCN
99052817. Greenville, S.C.: Journey
Books, Bob Jones Univ. Press, 2000. ISBN
1579243304, PAP, $6.95.
F. Ships--Fiction; Rivers--Fiction; Jungles--Fiction;
Brazil--Fiction. 104 p. Elementary.
Set in Brazil, The Captain’s Hat is filled with
imagination-sparking details about life along
“the big river.” As a former missionary to
Brazil, author Anita Williams is well able to lend
authenticity to this story of two boys and their
adventures. Pedro and Spud befriend an older
couple, the man a retired sailor, living aboard a
ship scuttled on a beach. They meet a captain,
pick fruit and nuts in the jungle, explore the
countryside, and more. All the while, Pedro
dreams of one day being a captain with a
sparkling hat. A special deed earns him a hat of
his own.
Told in semi-poetic form, the book has rich
language and cadence to it. Though it is a
chapter book, it would still make a good readaloud
for younger ages. The characters are
likeable and the adventures are fun to read
about. Subtle lessons on problem-solving and
friendship are also woven into the tales.
Betsy Ruffin, Teacher/Librarian, Cleburne, Texas
The case of the missing minds, by Bill
Myers. (Bloodhounds, Inc.; 6.) LCCN
99006474. Minneapolis: Bethany House,
1999. ISBN 155661490X, PAP, $5.99.
F. Hypnotism--Fiction; Brothers and sisters--Fiction;
Christian life--Fiction; Mystery and detective stories.
127 p. Elementary (Middle school).
Brother and sister Sean and Melissa, owners of
the Bloodhounds, Inc. Detective Agency, are
asked by the owner of the local Comedy Club to
investigate the mysterious disappearance of
money from his cash register. The duo takes in
a show at the club and watch in amazement as
the hypnotists work their wonders on the local
townspeople. The next day, Sean and Melissa
notice those who were hypnotized the previous
day are still subject to its influences. Along with
the bizarre behavior of the local folks, the
brother and sister notice a crime spree of
robberies as well. They think the two events are
connected and begin to investigate the
hypnotists, who have set up shop in the town
and offer to take clients back to previous lives
they have lived. Through a series of events, the
two discover the hypnotists are behind the
robberies by having their hypnotized clients
perform the illegal deeds. The plot is
uncovered, the hypnotists arrested, and the
townspeople return to normal.
Bill Myers in The Case of the Missing Minds
takes the subject of hypnosis and reveals the
danger in it. Through a conversation with their
dad, Sean and Melissa realize that even though
the Bible doesn’t blatantly say hypnotism is bad,
it is pretty explicit about letting our thoughts be
under God’s control. Myers combines slapstick
humor, moral teaching, and lively writing in his
book, which make it a winner for the 8-13 yearold
reader.
This is the sixth book in his Bloodhounds, Inc.
series. All of the books entice the reader with
believable characters, funny happenings, and a
biblical principle. Myers is a favorite of this age
range and this book continues his tradition.
Eileen Zygarlicke, Freelance Writer/Editor, Grand Forks, North
Dakota
Cassie, you’re a winner, by Reneé Kent.
(Adventures in Misty Falls; 1.) LCCN
99050658. Birmingham, Ala.: New Hope
Publishers, 2000. ISBN 1563097354, PAP,
$4.99.
F. Christian life--Fiction; Competition (Psychology)--
Fiction; Fairs--Fiction. 100 p. Elementary (Middle
school).
Cassie, You’re a Winner is the story of a pre-teen
girl who wants to be “the best” at something.
When she looks around her, it seems that
everyone has a particular gift or talent, and she
has none. Cassie compares herself to her two
best friends, J. J. and Iggy—both are skilled at
something, better looking, etc. So, Cassie
decides to enter two contests in the county
fair—cookie baking and horseback riding.
Cassie is sure she should be able to get a “blue
ribbon” for at least one of these events. Then,
she is convinced, she will feel special and be a
winner. The day of the fair arrives, and nothing
turns out quite like she has planned.
Renee Kent writes about common feelings of
inadequacy and insecurity in pre-teen girls and
boys. Readers can relate to the characters and
their struggles. The story teaches valuable
lessons on friendship and what it really means to
be a winner.
Tammy Williams, Freelance Writer, Social Worker, Port Orchard,
Washington
★
The Christmas doll, by Elvira Woodruff.
LCCN 96045314. New York: Scholastic,
2000. ISBN 0590318721, HBB, $15.95.
F. Dolls--Fiction; Orphans--Fiction; Christmas--
Fiction; London (England)--Fiction. 151 p.
Elementary.
The Christmas Doll is a beautiful story that will
touch the hearts of any reader, although intended
for children. It is the story of two sisters, Lucy
and Glory, orphans that live in a workhouse in
London. Lucy, the elder sister, protects and
cares for her sister and often comforts her with
stories about their life before the death of their
parents. One of these stories is of a doll called
“Morning Glory” that Lucy tells Glory she had
as an infant. She also tells of how their mother
sewed a blue morning glory flower on each of
Glory’s dresses. When a deadly fever epidemic
comes to the workhouse, Lucy decides it would
be safer to live on the streets of London than risk
exposing Glory to the fever. So Lucy and Glory
make a daring escape and find themselves
starving and cold on the streets. It is while
searching the “mud flats” for treasure to sell,
that Glory finds a doll that she is certain is
“Morning Glory.” Lucy, sick at heart, realizes
that selling the doll is their only hope. Neither
girl could ever imagine the events that follow,
all because of a doll named “Morning Glory.”
Elvira Woodruff paints a wonderful picture of
life in nineteenth century London for two
orphan girls. The story is imaginative and
sweet. The story teaches of loyalty, friendship,
and love. It is destined to be a classic in the lines
of The Little Princess.
Tammy Williams, Freelance Writer, Social Worker, Port Orchard,
Washington
Close call, by Todd Strasser. LCCN
98036947. New York: G. P. Putnam’s
Sons, Penguin Putnam, 1999. ISBN
039923134X, HBB, $15.99.
F. Friendship--Fiction; Baseball--Fiction. 118 p.
Elementary.
Jenny argues over calls during their after-school
baseball games, and Jenny never argued before.
Some of her friends don’t want to see what’s
wrong with her; they just want to keep playing
baseball. But Ian and Krishnan try talking to
Jenny and Ian even invites her and her two
brothers over to his house for supper. Jenny tells
Ian’s mom, Mrs. Piccolo, that her step-dad is in
drug treatment and Jenny has to babysit her twoyear-old
brother. Her older step-brother, Billy,
hangs out with his high school friends in the
parking lot after school and throws rocks at
Jenny and her friends who are playing baseball
in the high school field. Jenny doesn’t like
having to babysit all the time. She wants to play
baseball with her friends.
Mrs. Piccolo explains that things might be
tough now, but times change and things will get
better. Jenny seems to feel better after her talk
with Ian’s mom. Billy talks to Ian, who is
surprised at how nice Billy is, telling him how
much he likes baseball. They all have a good
time at supper that night.
Despite seeing a different side of Billy, Ian is
still afraid of him and his friends. He doesn’t
understand why the older boys throw rocks at
the baseball players. Then Ian’s mom gives him
the idea to challenge the older boys to a baseball
game. The high school guys go for it and so do
the younger kids. After the game, the older kids
leave the younger kids alone.
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