Keep Her Safe

By Sophie Hannah

I use this blog usually to recommend books for middle school and young adult aged people because there are so many kids that don't know what to read and parents don't know what to recommend. However, this adult book was so good that I just had to share.

If you are into mystery and suspense, then this book is for you. It was one that I just picked at random to listen to (as an audio book) and I was thrilled! I couldn't stop listening.

It starts with Cara Burrows running away from her family for a little break. She is happily married with two young teenage children and she's found out she's pregnant again. The rest of her family is not too happy with this new development, and, feeling upset and confused, she heads to Arizona to a 5-star spa to figure out her own feelings. She arrives late her first night and checks into an already-occupied room. A man and 14 year old girl wake up and find Cara. Cara excuses herself after trying to explain why she ended up in their room. When she gets down to reception, the receptionist is so upset, she upgrades Cara to her own casita. Cara just wants to sleep so she accepts and tries to forget what happened.

The next day, Cara hears an old woman explaining to the receptionist that she saw Melody. Cara, having no idea why this is weird, tries to dismiss it, but something sticks. When she looks up information about Melody, she finds that Melody was a 7 year old girl who was killed by her parents 7 years ago. However, a body was never found even though everyone believes she's dead. When Cara sees a picture of the 7 year old Melody, she realizes it looks just like the girl she saw in the hotel room. There are other, non-disputable things that connect Melody with the girl in the hotel room. Could it really be her? Could her parents be in prison for life for a murder that never happened? Or is it all a ruse? A fake? A look-alike?

Cara teams up with other guests from the resort to investigate more, and she gathers more information about the long ago case. When Cara gets kidnapped, she knows she getting too close to something. The other guests get the police the involved, basically reopening the case of Melody and trying to find Cara. Cara escapes after a few days and the case if figured out after some good detective work. Many people were involved in a few deceptions, sending the story into different paths of thought. But just when you think you know everything, a major plot twist shakes everything up that left me with my jaw on the floor for a while afterwards. I also couldn't get it out of my head so I ended up thinking about it for a long time after I finished listening.

I know the summary may not make this book as exciting as I want it to be, but it is really good. I don't want to give too much away because I want you also to be surprised. The surprises are great!

Some of the characters in this book are fun and engaging. Cara, the main protagonist, is complex but not always constant. Sometimes she's weak and cautious about her words, but at other times, she comes right out and says her mind even though she usually doesn't like to. I guess characters can change, but sometimes it was too much change. The action was just enough to keep you wanting to know more, the suspense dragging you along until you just want to know the answer!  There is some language in the book, some F-bombs and "God-damns" but it wasn't overwhelming.  You need to be good at keeping track of a bunch of characters because there are quite a few, and most of them are necessary. Some a not really needed. 

Overall, this was an exciting book, and the ending was phenomenal! I still am slightly in shock at the way it ended. It leaves me wondering two different ideas of what the author might mean by it, but isn't that what a good book should do? Stay with you? Leave you with something to think about?

I would recommend this book for adults who like mystery, suspense, and thrills. It wasn't scary suspenseful, but kept you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens next. I highly recommend it!

Echo

By Pam Munoz Ryan

Echo is a beautiful story that really consists of 4 different stories. But these 4 stories are connected in an incredible way. Each little story is filled with doubt and fear and a complex, strong spirit, and each story is filled with music. But in the end, they culminate into a gorgeous composition that will echo on after you've finished reading. 

We start with Otto, a boy playing hide and seek with his friends. To impress a girl he likes, he decides to hide in the woods so he'll be the last one found. As he waits, he pulls out a book he recently bought from gypsies, but he's amazed to find his name on the title. The story is about 3 princesses who were given to a witch and were cursed. Otto, who gets lost in the woods, happens across these 3 princesses, and they ask for his help. They fill a simple harmonica with their song and tell Otto to give it to others. Once the harmonica, and the song it produces, helps 3 people, the princesses will break their curse and be free. Otto leaves and finds his way home. When he tells everyone what happened, they don't believe him and think him crazy. He grows up to marry the girl he fancied and live a happy life.

The story then jumps to a new character in a new time. We are now 50 years into the future during World War II and we meet Friedrich from Germany. Friedrich has a birth defect, and at a young age, started working in the harmonica factory in town with his father and uncle. He finds a beautiful harmonica that sounds more amazing than any harmonica he's every played before so he takes it. Friedrich is obsessed with music and is often found conducting imaginary orchestras. Most people find him strange. Life continues to get harder as the War encroaches into their town, and Friedrich's father is not on the right side. Friedrich's father is taken away, and Friedrich races to save him. Just when things are at the worst, this story pauses.

We then move to 1935 and Philadelphia, PA, to a 14 year old named Mike. Mike and his younger brother Frankie are orphans waiting to be adopted. Mike is a gifted musician at the piano. When he finds a harmonica (the same harmonica that Friedrich had in Germany), he puts together a plan to save his brother and he from having nothing and no one. However, they are taken as foster kids to a rich young woman's house, a woman who is dealing with demons of her own. Slowly, music and kindness help, but Mike is afraid they will be separated. He plans to escape with Frankie, but things don't go as planned. Just when things are at their worst, the story pauses.

In the last story, we meet Ivy in 1942 in Southern California. She is a Mexican immigrant who has moved to a new place for her father's work. There are definitely divisions of race, and there are even discussions about the Japanese people in the area who have been taken to camps. In a neighboring house that belonged to a Japanese couple, Ivy finds a room hidden away that officials are looking for. Does she tell? And what's wrong with a room filled with musical instruments? In the meantime, she starts her new school and gets to use a harmonica (guess who else had this harmonica). She is beyond talented and also starts to play the flute. Life gets tense, and again, just when things are at their worst, the story pauses.

In the fourth section of this book, we move to 1951 in New York, NY.  Each chapter in this section belongs to one of the characters: Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy. Their continued stories are revealed as their lives have converged. Because of the harmonica they each shared, their lives have gone in directions they couldn't possibly have imagined. It is a beautiful culmination of their lives.

And in a forest long ago, three beautiful princesses are freed from their curse and are reunited with their family.

This story was incredible! In the beginning you have no idea how everything fits together.  Each story is endearing, and it's hard to leave each one at its cliffhanger. But the end is magnificent.  The way the stories fit together is perfect and creative and brilliant, just like a musical composition that haunts you after it's finished. This story will do the same. It is a MUST READ!!!

I recommend this novel for everyone, but especially for middle school boys and girls. 

A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L'Engle

"It was a dark and stormy night."

Best beginning of any novel ever! I remember thinking this the first time I picked up this book as a tween. And it was a book that I read multiple times within those few early teenage years. I remember enjoying the book immensely.

When I watched the movie a few months ago, I remembered pieces of it, but not enough to contrast between the book and movie.  I had heard complaints about how different the movie was compared to the book and how much was changed, but until I read the book, I was not aware just how much the movie deviated from the original story.

A Wrinkle in Time is a fantastic tale that is not set in a certain time. In fact, unless you checked the copyright date, you'd never know that it was written in 1962. It feels like present day.

Meg Murry is the main protagonist, and she, along with her brother Charles Wallace and their new friend Calvin, are whisked away by Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. As a child, I thought these names were fantastic! Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which act as guardians, showing the children the terrible danger that lurks nearby and bringing them on an adventure into danger where they have a chance to save their father. The danger is The Black Thing, the Shadow, the Darkness that threatens peoples hearts and souls. But there are those who are fighting it, bringing light to the Darkness and sending the Darkness away.

The children are taken and left on the planet Camazotz where the people are controlled by IT. Everything is the same and like, and no one needs to think. IT offers freedom from thought and freedom of rest.  But it's not real freedom. Charles Wallace is taken in by IT and Meg is the only one who can free him, free him with the one thing that IT does not have: love.  In the end, Meg saves the day, and the family is all reunited.

What I was most surprised about and what I had forgotten about this book was that it has Christian view. The Black Thing is the evil devil, trying to manipulate and possess the people of the world. He fills them with hate, jealousy, greed, and the need for an easy, thought-free life. But there are fighters of good, bringing love and hope to a world of darkness. A few times throughout the book, scripture is quoted, and the Lord is referenced. Of course, those parts were deleted from the movie, but it brings the idea of spiritual warfare to the fore-front.  We, as Christians, are surrounded by the powers of darkness. But we have peace knowing that Jesus has defeated the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. Though we are still plagued by these, we have the ultimate hope of salvation and true freedom from them.

This book is a fast paced story. The author does not dwell on flowery descriptions of places or people so that makes the story feel faster. There is always something happening.

I would recommend this story for middle school and young adult boys and girls. It is a classic, but it is still a great story. It is a little unusual and strange, but it would be a wonderful book to discuss with kids to find out what they notice about it.

The Siren

By Kiera Cass

Kiera Cass is one of those sweet, simplistic writers that is perfect for young girls and ladies.  She doesn't need to push boundaries to match the culture. She doesn't need to use crude language or sexual situations to draw you in. She just tells a story, a beautiful story about people drawn together. The Siren is one of those stories. 

Kahlen was crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner when the Ocean called to her. When Kahlen answered Her amid all the chaos and death of everyone else from the ship, the Ocean welcomed her in to become one of Her own, a Siren. Kahlen, with 2-4 other Sirens, is transformed into a deadly messenger. Whenever the Ocean needs to "eat", the Sirens call and sing all passengers to death.

Eighty years later, Kahlen is still a Siren. She only has 20 more years before she will be released from her sentence, but each passing year weighs heavily upon her. She is the only Siren that has nightmares about what they have done. She keeps a scrapbook about all the passengers she sings to their death.  She does not live in the present but clings to the past. The other Sirens she lives with do not understand her and encourage her to change, but it is just not Kahlen. All she has ever wanted was to fall in love and get married.

But one day, that all changes. She meets a boy. And not just any boy, but a special one. Akinli does not shy away from her quiet nature. (Sirens cannot speak or sing in front of anyone or the Ocean will claim them). He does not fear her different ways. In fact, he is a perfect complement for her. And just as she feels as if he could be the One, she leaves to save him and herself from pain and lose. She is Siren, she cannot age for 20 more years, she cannot speak, and she cannot give away the secret of the Sirens. He would just grow old in front of her and not understand the mystery of her. So Kahlen leaves, pulling her sisters with her to move somewhere else and withdrawing further into herself.

Love has other ideas though.  After a extremely difficult singing, Kahlen "runs" away and ends up right by Akinli, as if they are linked. It had been months since she left, but he takes her in as if it were only yesterday.  They spend a magical, perfect day together, but Kahlen makes a mistake, opening her mouth, speaking a single word. In that instant, Kahlen trades her life for his, adding more time to her sentence in exchange for his safety and life. And though that is sad enough, things are not that simple.

Even though Sirens cannot get hurt or experience pain, Kahlen starts to fall ill. She cannot swim underwater like she used to; she cannot sing to death the way she did before.  She is extremely fatigued, sleeping long hours even though Sirens do not need to sleep. And it's not just her. The other Sirens report back that Akinli has the same symptoms. The two are linked, and just when all hope is lost about saving them, the Ocean finally shares the secret that could save them both.

What I liked: Again, Kiera Cass is a wonderful writer. Her style is straightforward but engaging, sucking readers in. You want to know what happens. You grow closer to these characters even though they aren't real. They are easy to read but sweet and satisfying. The characters are realistic and complex, but unique and fresh. Kiera Cass also wrote The Selection series, and I felt those were just as wonderful!

I would recommend this book, and The Selection series, to ANY middle school and young adult girl. They are amazing books!

Quantum Prophecy

by Michael Carroll

Quantum Prophecy starts with a battle...a huge battle between superhumans.  The ultimate evil guy, Ragnarok, is leading the villains in his super tank, waiting for the right opportunity to release his power damper and strip the heroes of their powers. Things don't go as planned, and an explosion rocked the surrounding area.  In that instand, all the superhumans disappeared.

Ten years later, 13 year olds Colin and Danny are celebrating Mystery Day, the day to honor the disappearance of all the superhumans. But weird things are happening. Danny discovers he has super speed. Colin finds out he has super strength and incredible senses. What they find out is that not all superhumans have disappeared.  They've just...retired after their powers were striped.  In fact, Colin and Danny both have retired superhumans living close to them without even an idea of who they were.

Unfortunately, Danny and Colin, with their emerging powers, are kidnapped by someone they thought they could trust. The plan is to strip them of their powers as well, thereby saving the world from a mysterious prophecy that showed Danny leading an army that would destroy everything they knew. Colin escapes and heads to find help, but it's not enough. They are all betrayed again, and Danny sacrifices part of himself to save thousands.  Does that prove that he's not a bad guy after all? You'll just have to find out in the next book.

What I liked: This was a book that I read to my boys, and they LOVED it. They never wanted me to put it down. It is full of adventure and excitement and super powers.  What's not to love? It's a great boy book, but it's also fun for girls too.  It is the first in a trilogy and one of my sons is breezing through the second book with a lot of ohhs and ahhs about what's happening.  It is also a little bit more of a challenging book to read so upper elementary students might struggle with the some of the descriptions. 

What I don't like: There are a lot of words that are low level swear words, words like crap, damn, hell, and bloody. They also use God's name in vain many times. My boys were not happy about those parts, but as I was reading it aloud, I skipped over many of those parts. They were always offended when those words came up though. 

The Remnant Chronicles

By Mary E. Pearson

The Remnant Chronicles are a trilogy made up of The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal, and The Beauty of Darkness. Each book is filled with adventure, romance, intrigue, and deception at each turn.

The Kiss of Deception starts with Lia, or Princess Arabella, First Daughter in the Kingdom of Morrighan.  It is her wedding day, but she is far from excited. In fact, she sneaks away, deciding that she wants a chance to live her own life and fall in love. Lia and her handmaid, Pauline, run away to a small town where two young men track her down. One is the Prince who she was to marry and the other is an assassin from a neighboring country on a mission to kill her. The only thing is...you don't know who is who. She starts to fall in love with one of the young men, but you have no idea if it's the Prince or the Assassin. And she has no idea who they are either. She thinks they are just attractive, young men. When something terrible happens, Lia's guilt drives her to return to her home to make things right. But on the way, she is kidnapped by the Assassin. Instead of killing her, he decides to take her back to his country of Venda to see if she can be used. Essentially, he can't kill her because he loves her. The Prince, finding out this happens, chases after her because he is also in love with her. Lia is hauled across the country, fighting and trying to escape, but learning that her destiny is more powerful than she realizes. The story ends with the Prince finally catching up to her, and they are both led into Venda, a vicious place that never takes prisoners.

In The Heart of Betrayal, Lia is trapped in Venda and must learn to play a twisted game with the Kozimar, or King of Venda. He is bent on destroying the other kingdoms and manipulates those around him to get what he wants. The Assassin fights his feelings for Lia while still trying to protect her and the Prince plays another game of deception to keep his true identity and feelings for Lia hidden.  To gain more power, the Kozimar parades Lia around to the various people of the land to bring them "hope" for a new future. The people of Venda take to Lia, welcoming her in, and she learns that Venda is not full of evil barbarians as she was once taught. As she gains more power and discovers more of her destiny, the Kozimar decides to marry her. On the day of the wedding, the Prince finally finds a way to escape Venda with Lia, but the getaway is not clean. Lia is hurt and dying.

Finally, The Beauty of Darkness. Lia takes a while but recovers from her wounds. Her goal is to return to her kingdom to warn them that the Kozimar is still coming, but the Prince is determined to bring her to his kingdom to keep her safe. The Assassin catches up to them and helps escort Lia back to her kingdom. But her kingdom is not safe for her. In fact, they would like to kill her. New information comes to light and Lia realizes that there are traitors in her kingdom, people who are helping the Kozimar destroy her home and the people she loves. She ousts the traitors, saves her dying father, and rallies her people to war. But they are terribly outnumbered. Little does she know that the Prince has ordered his troops to fight with Lia and her kingdom. Together, the two kingdoms with help from some Vendans will battle an army that is twice their size. Lia, using her special gifts and brilliant mind, concocts a plan. The people around her are starting to trust her and follow along. The battle is bloody, but Lia finds a way to save so many of them all. The Kozimar is killed and peace is brought to the land, peace between kingdoms that hasn't happened ever. All because of Lia.

What I liked: This series is fabulous! I loved the first book because it was a whole guessing game as to who she fell in love with. Was it the Prince she was to marry or the Assassin that was sent to kill her? You do eventually find out, but it's fun to wonder and guess while you don't know. The books also had amazing characters. The three main characters (Lia, the Prince, and the Assassin) were complex and well thoughtout, with backstories that were so interesting. All the twists and turns throughout each of the books were great too. Other side characters, like Pauline, Gwyneth, Berdie, Aster, Sven, and Griz, made the story so much more rich and entertaining. It was a great series!

I would recommend this series to middle school and young adult girls. Though it's not a girly-girl book with lots of romance and moony eyes, it's not really a guy book either. I think that some boys might enjoy it, but it's mostly for girls. 

Rogue Knight

By Brandon Mull

This is the second book in the Five Kingdoms series, following directly after Sky Raiders. It continues to follow Cole, Mira, Jace, and Twitch on their adventures to right the wrongs done to Mira and find her sisters.

They move on through the first of the 5 kingdoms and into the 2nd. There, Cole is almost recaptured by the people who enslaved him before, but he escapes with help from his friends. They gather a new, powerful friend named Skye who can create the most amazing illusions. They also hear about three important pieces of information: a Rogue Knight is conquering villages and cities across the Elloweer Kingdom; a monster is zombifying villages and cities within the Kingdom; and there is a mysterious prisoner in a special prison called Blackmont Castle. Mira is convinced that the special prisoner is her sister Nori so they make their way there. Along the way, Cole finds his friend, Dalton, from Earth and they help him escape.

When they get to the prison, the Rogue Knight captures Mira and declares a duel against the Dreadknight, warden of the special prison. An epic battle commences. When it's over, Cole and his friends check the prison, but the mysterious prisoner is mysteriously missing.  Apparently, Trillian the torivor, a caged demon, kidnapped Nori and had her brought back to his Lost Palace. Cole and the others must travel there to save her.

When they get to the Lost Palace, Cole, Jace, and Mira meet Trillian but only through dreaming. To save Nori, they must pass a test, and they only have 3 chances to get it right. It is difficult, to say the least, but they pass and save Nori.  After they leave the Lost Palace, they plan to meet up with the Rogue Knight to go after the monster and stop it. They meet another one of the High Shapers of the Five Kingdoms who gives them special masks that turn them into animals and that will not allow them to be zombified by the monster.

They meet up with the Rogue Knight and together they travel to fight the monster. While fighting, Cole discovers he has magic, or shaping abilities that are rare and powerful. However, while using them to fight the monster, he is cut off from them. Difficult as the battle is, Cole and his friends win and save the day! But the journey is not over.  Honor and a few loyal soldiers plan to head to another Kingdom in search of their youngest sister while Cole, Mira, Dalton, and Jace head to a the Kingdom of Zeropolis to find the middle sister, Consta.  All the while, Cole and Dalton are still on the lookout for other friends from Earth to help save. 

What I like about this book: It was a great follow-up to the first book in the series! It, again, was full of action and adventure, twists and turns.  The story kept moving quickly, and my boys were desperate to hear what happened next.  It was fun to continue this journey with Cole and his friends and to meet knew ones. I love the creativity of the author and how each of the kingdoms are completely different and amazing.  In one scene, Cole, Jace and Twitch go to see an Illusion show that is pretty sweet! 

This is a great book for middle school and young adult boys or girls who like adventure and fast paced stories!

Sky Raiders

By Brandon Mull

This is the first book in a 5 book series entitled Five Kingdoms. My boys and I listened to this one as an audio book, and it is really exciting! It catches you from the very beginning!

It's Halloween, and Cole and his friend are out trick or treating. One stop they want to make is at a neighborhood haunted house that is supposed to have the BEST special effects. When they get there, they are led to the basement with others and are captured by strange people. Cole manages to hide but watches his friends and the strangers climb down a hole in the ground. One mentions that the way will close soon so no one will be able to follow them. Cole makes a choice to sneak up behind and try to rescue his friends. Unfortunately, he's in for a big surprise!

He is transported to a new world, a world that is made up of Five Kingdoms. And they aren't just regular worlds, but worlds filled with special magic. Some of the kidnapped kids also possess this magic and going to be sold to the highest bidder. Cole gets captured while trying to rescue his friends and is sold to Sky Raiders. Sky Raiders are a group of people who raid and pillage castles in the clouds, strange castles that are made up of different items and substances.

While there, Cole meets Mira, a girl who needs his help. Together with Jace and Twitch, Cole and Mira escape from the Sky Raiders and go beyond the cloud wall where they meet a former High Shaper who helps them. Secrets are revealed, and a quest is planned, a quest that will put them directly in the path of the monster Carnag.

Only by working together do the kids defeat the monster and save the day. But the adventure is not over yet. They need to head to the other kingdoms to find Mira's sisters and right the wrong that was done to them long ago. 

What I liked about this book: This book was filled with adventure and non-stop action! My boys couldn't wait to find out what happened next, begging me to play more. The characters are varied and exciting, and new surprises are around every corner. It was creative and imaginative, with new monsters and creatures. 

I would recommend this books for middle school boys and girls, and anyone who likes action and adventure. It was a fun book!

Vampire Academy

By Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy is a story about vampires, but it's also about friendship, loyalty, and finding yourself.

Rose is a dhampir, a half-Moroi (vampire) and a guardian.  Her best friend, Lissa, is a royal princess in Moroi society. Rose and Lissa have a special relationship, one where Rose can sense Lissa's emotions. Rose also feels very protective of Lissa and will do whatever she needs to keep her safe. They should be at the Vampire Academy in Montana, but Rose helped Lissa escape 2 years ago to help keep her safe from an unseen danger. After 2 years on the run, the Academy has finally caught up to them and are determined to bring them back.

The reception back at the Academy is chilly, but they are expected to stay and work on catching up in their classes. Rose struggles to keep keep up with the others in her class, but she's extra determined...and has extra practices with Lissa's new extra guardian, Dimitri. Dimitri is from Russia and is beyond hot. He takes his work very seriously, but he starts to warm up around Rose.

As the months roll on by, things start to happen, startling things to Lissa. She finds dead animals in her room, bloody and violently killed. Lissa struggles not to panic and fights with depression. But through it all, Rose is there to help her. Rose, however, can't keep her safe all the time. She will need help from Dimitri and others to rescue Lissa from herself and from one who kidnaps her for her special abilities. In the end, Lissa is saved, the bad guy is put away, and Rose and Dimitri have to fight their attraction to each other. Action, adventure, romance, heartache, and tears...it's all there in the Vampire Academy. 

What I like about this book: It is the beginning of a new series, so that means I have more time to get to know the characters. Also Rose is a complex character, and I like complex characters.  Rose is loyal and fiercely passionate about Lissa and protecting her. But Rose is also impulsive and vulnerable at times.

What I didn't like about this book: While the story line is great and the characters are pretty cool, there are a few things that make me pause about this book. First off, there are a bunch of swear words in the book. Now, I'm not against swear words, but I'm not for them either. There is a time and place, but using them over and over when not necessary is not the time or place. And though the characters are older (17 or 18) and it's more realistic that they use swear words, I don't feel comfortable sharing those kinds of books with middle school students. Also, there are a lot of sexual references. Rose is considered gorgeous compared to the Moroi with her bigger chest, and there is a time when she's shirtless with a boy. There's also another time when she and Dimitri are under a lust spell and she's pretty much naked.  Another thing that gives me pause is that Lissa struggles with depression and to help, she cuts herself. I understand that that is a way that some people cope with their emotions, it is, again, not something I want my middle schoolers to be exposed to.

I would recommend this book to UPPER middle school students and young adults who are mature. It is probably more of a girl book. I don't think boys would like this one very much. 

The Westing Game

By Ellen Raskin

The Westing Game is one of my favorite mysteries and is something along the lines of Agatha Christie.  There's a murder, a bomber, a burglar, 16 suspects, and the most elaborate game imaginable. There are more twists and turns in this story that you can guess. And just when you think you have it, you don't!

The Westing Game starts off with Barney Northrup, a realtor and totally fake person, renting off all the apartments and business places to all sorts of different people within the newly built Sunset Towers. Two months after they all move in, Sam Westing, the wealthy entrepreneur and namesake of the town, is found dead in his bed in his mansion up the hill from Sunset Towers. And just like that...the game is started. 

Most of the tenants and residents of Sunset Towers are invited to come to the mansion for the reading of the will and find out instead that they will be playing a game...and game that will give them $2,000,000 if they win. And to win, they must find the name of the murderer. 

The players are paired up and given clues, and they work together to solve the crime.  Tensions run high, and a few bombs go off, landing 2 victims in the hospital. Everyone is suspicious of everyone else, and all the clues seem to lead in different directions. As time dwindles, no one really knows who did it, but they're all doing their best. Working together might just be the solution, but it might end up being too late. Will anyone win? Who did it? Does anyone nab the $2,000,000?  All the answers are just a book away!

What I like about this book: There are some fabulous characters in this book. One that I enjoy the most is Turtle, a 13 year old girl whose real name is Tabitha Ruth. She's clever, fierce, and tough. Also, the clues and built up to the solution is brilliant.  They all lead one way, but it all ends up being a red herring to lead you astray.  It's fun and exciting!

What I don't like about this book: Because there are so many characters, sometimes they are hard to keep track of who is who. When I would read this with my middle school students, we would have a chart to fill out to help remind us who each character was. That's the only downfall of this book.

I would recommend this story for middle school boys and girls, and really anyone who enjoys a great mystery! The Westing Game is a must read!

Legendary

By Stephanie Garber

Caraval part 2!?!?!?! Yes!!!!!!

Legendary picks up right where Caraval finished, except instead of Scarlett being the protagonist, it is now Tella. Where Scarlett is cautious and fearful, Tella is spontaneous and fearless. She always jumps in with two feet, hardly looking where she's going. But though she's impulsive, she's much more clever that others give her credit for.  And it's her turn to play the game of Caraval...with a much greater prize for winning.

Unbeknownst to us in the previous book, Tella made a deal with a secret correspondent, hoping to find information about the mother who abandoned her and Scarlett long ago. In exchange for this information, she only needs one thing...Legend's true name, a name no one knows or is able to speak aloud.

Even though the last Caraval has just finished and another should not happen for another year, Legend's crew of performers pack up and head to the capital of the kingdom for a special birthday celebration for the Empress. Scarlett and Tella get to tag along, but Scarlett refuses to play in this next game. Tella's on her own...except for Dante, the beyond-godlike man who has decided that Tella needs his help.

The rules seem to be the same for this Caraval, except that this time, everything is supposed to be real. It's not a game. Tella has a hard time believing this, but too much is happening that convinces her otherwise.  She becomes betrothed to Jacks and discovers that he is one of the long-forgotten Fates, godlike beings who used humans as playthings. His plan is to bring the other Fates back from their entrapment and rule the world again. 

As Tella closes in on the end of the game and her prize, her heart is pulled in too many directions. Can she save her mother and the man she's fallen in love with? Can she stop the world from being ruled by too much power? And the biggest question of all...who is Legend?

This is the second book in the Caraval series, and as a second book, it does not disappoint! It has twists and turns, romance and adventure. You, again, are on the edge of your seat, breathlessly waiting for the next revelation and surprise and the ending will leave you with an open mouth.  It is so good! AND...the final book is coming out soon! Can't wait!

What I liked about this book: Well, if you can't tell, there is so much I like about this book. The author, again, delivers a strong, complex, conflicted character. She also has such a unique way of describing the images she wants you to see, although this time it isn't with colors like with Scarlett.  It is a must read book!

I recommend this book to middle school students and young adults. As with last time, boys and girls, alike, will devour this book!

Caraval

By Stephanie Garber

Caraval! What an amazing, inventive story! This book is phenomenal from the start and hard to put down. Once you think you know what's real, something else comes to light and forget it! You're back to square one. 

Caraval follows a young lady named Scarlett. Scarlett is 18 years old, about to get married to a man she's never met, terrified of her abusive father, and protective of her younger sister, Tella. She will do anything to protect Tella, even marry a man who she believes with whisk them away and save them from their father. But then, she receives a ticket to Caraval.

Caraval is a mysterious, magical event put on every year by Legend, its mysterious, magical creator. And every year it is different. This year, Scarlett receives 3 tickets, and even though she's desperately wanted to go for many years, she can't risk upsetting her father and missing her wedding. However, Tella and Julian, a sailor in port for a bit, have other ideas. They kidnap her and bring her to Caraval, held this year on Legend's own island.  And it is just as magical as Scarlett imagined...and deadly. This year, the game revolves around Scarlett and Tella, and the one who wins must be the one who finds the kidnapped Tella.

Scarlett, fearful of all that's around her, is warned not to get swept away by the game and not to forget that not everything is real. Magic abounds, weaving together colors and sounds and real and fantasy until even you don't know what is genuine or not. In the space of 5 nights, Scarlett learns to let go of her fear, learns to trust herself and others, and learns what the meaning of sacrifice is. She follows the clues until it leads to Tella, but it's not all happiness and rainbows when they reunite. She must make a difficult, heart-breaking decision in the end.
Don't get swept away...and don't forget it's only a game!

What I liked about this book: I couldn't put it down! The story is so complex and imaginative, and it's fun to see what comes next. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, especially when Scarlett starts to trust Julian and their relationship grows. She is also a wonderfully complex character who is selfless and just wants to protect her sister. Also, the way the author describes the images she sees is beautiful and colorful. She uses colors to describe sounds and tastes and it sucks the reader in. In the end, when you're excited the story is over, it leaves the reader with another twist. A twist that compels the reader to want to hear more... Good thing there's another book!

I would recommend this book to middle school students and young adults. It is not girly, but full of adventure and excitement so boys will want to devour it too. I pretty sure this author is now one of my new favorites!

Encylopedia Brown series

By Donald Sobol

Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective is the first in a great series of books that have been around for a long time. I remember reading them when I was a child, and they were as great then as they are now.  I pulled the first one out of my collection and read it to my boys. They begged me to keep reading.
Encyclopedia Brown is a 12 year old boy who reads lots of books. He, of course, remembers everything he reads. That's why they call him Encyclopedia. He often helps out his father, the town's police chief, solve stumping mysteries, usually with only asking one question. Encyclopedia decides to start his own business to help other people by solving their mysteries. He only charges $.25 per day (wow!).  Each chapter in the book is its own mystery with the solution in the back. Each mystery is unique, the clues hidden well within each chapter. If you pay attention to them, you can figure out the mysteries.
These are fantastic books, and like I said, my boys loved them! I received a bunch from a neighbor whose boys were older so my boys have been eating them up in the last week.  The books are short, no more than 150 pages, and have all the solutions in the back. These are also great books to work on observation and thinking skills. My boys are getting better at finding the little details that give away the solutions, but some are trickier than others.
This series of books is great for elementary and middle school girls and boys. They are all well written and thought out, with similiar characters in each. They are fun and quick reads that are just fun, especially when you can figure out the mystery!

The False Prince

By Jennifer Nielsen

This is one of my favorite books to read to kids. I've read it to a few of my classes, and they always enjoy it.  It is quick-witted, action-packed, and full of twists and turns.

In the beginning of the books, you meet Sage, a 14 year old orphan who just stole a turkey.  He's stopped and bought by a wealthy noble named Connor Bevin.  Connor has a plan, a devious plot that is dangerous. Besides Sage, Connor has also bought 3 other 14 year old boys, all orphans that are similar in size and description. One of the boys, Latamer, decides he doesn't want to participate so Connor has him killed to show how serious this is. Sage is furious, but listens well. He's all about what's best for him, and what's best for him right now is not getting killed.

Connor's plan is simple but dangerous. The King, Queen, and Crowned-Prince Darius were killed. The other prince, Jaron, went missing 4 years ago and is assumed dead though no body was ever found. Connor's plan is to take one of the remaining boys and turn him into the lost Prince Jaron, helping him to ascend to the throne.  Connor will not take no for an answer, nor will be be gentle. They have 2 weeks.

Sage is not one for taking orders or doing anything that makes him work.  He defies Connor at every turn, his mouth and quick-wit often getting him into trouble. But he knows that if he's not chosen to be prince, he will be killed.  Sage is also one for many secrets, finding others and keeping his.  He sneaks out every night, climbing around the outside of the manor or tiptoeing through the secret passageways, gathering information.
In the end, Sage makes sure he's the one chosen as Prince. He's got a great secret up his sleeve that thwarts Connor's ultimate plan, and he saves the other two boys. In the end, Sage becomes the Prince.  Many people are not happy, especially Connor who is arrested for killing the King, Queen, and Prince Darius, and war threatens the borders of the country.  All set up for a second book!

What I liked: I love Sage! He is smart, quick, and lively.  He does what is best, even if you don't see it right away. Everything he does has a purpose and reason. He always has a secret plan up his sleeve and a witty remark to throw in your face. He is a fantastic main character.  Some of the side characters are just as wonderful. The story line and twists are spectacular.

There is nothing I didn't like about this book or the other 2 in the series.  These are phenomenal books! I would recommend them for middle school kids and young adults, boys and girls.  It is a fun book!

The School of Good and Evil: The Last Ever After

By Soman Chainani

I know it's been a really long time since I last wrote a post, but life has been very busy. I actually finished this book a while ago, but I haven't had time to write about it. In fact, I have to play catch up on a bunch of books.

The Last Ever After is the 3rd and final book of The School of Good and Evil series. It is a really long book. The first half I was a little bored and it took me a while to get into it. But the second half of the book was fun and action-packed!

In the beginning of the third book, Agatha and Tedros are now back in Galvadon, living in secret in Agatha's mother's house. When the townspeople realize they are there, they capture Agatha, Tedros, and Agatha's mother.  A witch's burning is planned.  Agatha and Tedros escape with some help, but Agatha's mother sacrifices herself to save them.  They run away and find a secret portal into the other realm.  Princess Uma, one of the former teachers are the School of Good and Evil, takes them to the League of Thirteen, the most powerful heroes. However, time has not been good to the heroes.  They are old, overweight, and cranky.  Their plan is the capture Sophie, have her destroy the ring on her finger, and then crown Tedros and Agatha.

Sophie, meanwhile, is living at the School of Good and Evil with her true love, Rafal, the evil School Master. He is now young and incredibly handsome. Because she wears his ring, he has power because he has love on his side. And he will do anything to have Sophie keep it there.  The School of Good and Evil is messed up though. All of the students, Evers and Nevers, are combined into one school and crammed into the School of Good.  They are all taught to be villains.  At the other school, the School of Evil, old villains have returned and are plotting their revenge. These zombie-like, famous villains gain power by killing their heroes, and they are all out to find their counterparts so they can change their stories.  With each hero that is killed, a bit of Galvadon's protective border is removed.  This is part of Rafal's plan.  He wants the border to be brought down so he can attack the village and kill all the Readers.

Tedros and Agatha disguise themselves and sneak into the School, kidnap Sophie, and hide out with the other members of the League in a secret refuge, which also hides Guinevere and Lancelot.  Tedros must face his mother and what she did by leaving him long ago. The League also decides they must practice together, an old hero and a young hero/villain.  It's hard at first, but they learn to work together for good.

Sophie tries once again to get Tedros to love her. She's unsure whether Rafal or Tedros is her true love, but when she kisses Tedros, she realizes there is nothing there between them. She goes back to Rafal before the final battle.

In the final battle, the stakes are high.  The army of villain is massive while the heroes are few.  Surprises happen throughout, but in the end, evil is defeated. Sophie realizes that she doesn't need anyone to be her true love. She can be alone and happy. Agatha and Tedros plan to marry and be crowned at Camelot. Sophie becomes one of the new Deans at the new School of Good and Evil. And the end is sweet.

What I liked: I liked some of the new characters, like Merlin and Guinevere. Their stories and the twists were great.  The returning side characters like Dot and Anadil were fantastic and always good for comic relief or perspective.  The struggle of the main characters was realistic and interesting.

What I didn't like: The beginning was slow.

I would recommend this book/series to upper elementary and middle school kids who like fairy tales. This story also had a lot of action, adventure, and goriness so boys might like it more too.  It is good, clean, and fun.

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Lodestar

By Shannon Messenger

Wow.  Just...wow.

This book was amazing! I couldn't put it down, though that's how I am with all of Shannon Messenger's books. She is a fantastic writer!

This book picks up right after the 4th book ends, and for those of you who haven't read it, there will be a few spoilers here just to catch everyone up.  At the end of the 4th book, Keefe joins the Neverseen, the evil organization that's bent on ruling the world. It's shocking and heartbreaking, but he feels it's the only way.

In the Lodestar, it is revealed that Keefe is only trying to bring down the organization from the inside. He's working his way in, getting the bad guys to trust him so that he can ultimately defeat them. He does it to help Sophie. I think that he's really doing it because he's in love with her and he wants to save her. But that's just my opinion.  Sophie, of course, is oblivious, but she and Keefe work together over long distances to keep him safe and share secrets.

Sophie is also working with Fitz and the others of the Black Swan to discover what Lodestar is.  The Lodestar Initiative is a plan vaguely mentioned by the Neverseen as their great plan to "save the world" or change and fix it.  Sophie must figure out what it is and stop if before the world around her crumbles. They try to piece together clues hidden along the way, using a symbol they found. Sophie and her friends find out how the Neverseen travels and where many of their hideouts are located.  They also figure out some other secrets too. They get closer and closer just to end up still out of reach of their goal.

In their world of chaos and confusion, peace must be restored according to the Elven Councillors. A Peace Summit is planned, and all the leaders of the other species are invited to meet and discuss terms.  The elves, dwarves, gnomes, goblins, and trolls will all be sending their royalty or representatives to a sit down meeting with the Councillors, and Sophie is invited along with Mr. Forkle, the leader of the Black Swan.

In the end, Sophie figures out the Neverseen's plan a little too late, and someone important dies. Someone VERY important.  (I was so sad!)  Sophie also realizes the the Neverseen also have plans to use her, but they need leverage.  Keefe heard talk that they planned to snatch her family. Sophie thought that meant her new adoptive parents, Grady and Edaline, but she was wrong. They really grabbed her human family! Sophie runs into her little, human sister, who recognizes her.  AND THAT'S WHERE THE BOOK ENDS!

There's really so much more to this book that what I wrote. So much happens, but there's lots of little twists and turns along the way. Shannon Messenger is really good and planting infomration early and throughout the book that, if you're really smart, you piece it together to figure it all out!  Usually you've forgotten a lot of the little pieces until it becomes so obvious that, of course, you need that!  It's phenomenal! I can't say enough fabulous things about this series! I also reading it to my boys, and they beg and beg for me to keep reading.  They love all the characters and the comedic parts (especially Keefe!).

This series is fantastic for upper elementary, middle school, young adult, and anyone looking for a splendid book.  And it's safe! There are no swear words, no sex or drugs, and no graphic violence. It's like Harry Potter, but not as dark. It's so, so good!

Keeper of the Lost Cities

By Shannon Messenger

In honor of the fifth book coming out today, I'm going to talk about the first book in my second favorite series: Keeper of the Lost Cities!  This book/series was recommended to me by a student who was in love with these books (and still is).  She lent me her first book, and after reading it, I knew I had to have it and the next two in the series.  They were fantastic. And not only were they fantastic for me, but I knew my boys would love and adore them too.  Don't worry, they did. And now the fifth book has come out and we had to buy it today!!! We've already started it, that's how great it is.

Keepers of the Lost Cities is a book about a young girl named Sophie Foster. She's twelve years old, but she a child prodigy and is in her senior year at high school. She has no friends, and she feels like she doesn't fit in with her family. Not only that, but she can hear people's thoughts. Not something that endears one to others.

Then one day, she meets a beautiful boy, Fitz, who explains that he's been looking for her. And she's not human. She's an elf! That's why she doesn't belong. Fitz takes her back to the Elvin world, hidden away from humans, where she suddenly has to fit in. Everyone is very suspicious of her. Besides her being able to read and hear others' thoughts, no one, not even their most skilled telepaths, can read hers.  She is an enigma and many don't trust her.

She enrolls at the most prestigious school, Foxfire, and tries not to fail all of her classes. She must relearn many, many things because humans have things backwards at times. She makes friends, for the first time ever, and enemies.  She breaks rules, big important rules, because she knows its wrong not to help. Even though her life and schooling is on the line, she can't just let others get hurt when she knows she can help.

Sophie ends up getting kidnapped, along with her friend Dex. She has help, but in the end she must save herself and Dex, almost dying in the process. When she returns, she finds her friends and family are happy to have her. She finally belongs.

What I love about this book: The characters in this book are awesome! They are complex and diverse, full of quirks that stick with you.  My favorite character is Keefe.  He's always great for a laugh. I also love that this book has fantastic twists and turns. One thing always leads to another which leads to another. They are big books, but things are always happening so there's never a dull moment. My boys beg to listen to this book. I've also read this to 2 of my 6th grade classes and they love it as well, begging me to read the next book to them.

This book is like Harry Potter, but less dark.  There are bad things that happen, but there's always a hopeful attitude in the book.   The author keeps raising the stakes in each book, and they just keep getting better and better. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us in the 5th book!

This series is great for upper elementary, middle school, and young adults. It's also fantastic for anyone who just loves a great book. I can't put them down!

The School for Good and Evil

A World Without Princes
By Soman Chainani

At the end of the first book, Agatha kissed Sophie to save her. As Sophie came back to life, her and Agatha took hands and glittered away, back to their hometown and their old lives, leaving behind their friends and Agatha's Prince Tedros.

And that is where the 2nd book starts off. Sophie and Agatha are back home, celebrities after their exciting encounter in the fairy tale realm. Sophie eats it up, loving every minute of the fame, but Agatha isn't so sure. What's worse, where she thought that all she needed in the whole world was her best friend, her heart sings a different tune. She starts to wish for Tedros, believing that maybe she made the wrong choice. But what can she do?

Suddenly, arrows appear out of nowhere, flying though the air with deadly aim for only one person: Sophie. Sophie is locked into the church for safe keeping, but soon the town realizes that the only way to save themselves is to give Sophie up. Agatha tries to save her, but they are both transported back to The School for Good and Evil. But now it's completely different.

Because Agatha chose Sophie over her prince, fairy tales are starting to rewrite them selves. It's no longer the School for Good and Evil, but the School for Boys and Girls. Girls have distanced themselves from their princes, banding together and believing they now don't need a prince to save them. They can save themselves. This leaves the boys by themselves over in the School for Evil to fend for themselves. But their angry. And it's all Sophie's fault.

Agatha tries to fix the problem. She realizes, and is told by her teachers and other friends, that the only way to make things right is for her to kiss her Prince. She finds a way to get to him, but before they can kiss, something happens. Now Prince Tedros believes Agatha, too, is out to kill him and destroy his happily-ever-after. He wants both Sophie and Agatha dead and has promised his treasure to anyone who can make that happen.

A new trial is pronounced, a trial between boys and girls. Whoever can outlast the other wins. If the girls win, the boys will become the girls' slaves. If the boys win, Sophie and Agatha must be brought to the boys for public execution. Sophie and Agatha work together with their friends, trying to stop all of this from happening, but the trial comes. Things go awry during the trial and the Evil School Master, destroyed in the last book, returns, still wanting Sophie at his side. Sophie chooses him because Agatha has finally kissed Tedros, sealing their love. Sophie kisses the School Master, thereby sending Agatha back to their hometown alone. But before she can fully disappear, she grabs Tedros and he goes with, saving his life.

What I liked: It was a fantastic book, as good as the second. It started a little slow, but picked up. Some of the characters were new and parts of it were a little predicable (maybe that's just me), but there were still a plethora of twists and turns. You got to find out a little more history about some of the characters. Many of my favorite characters from the first book returned, adding comic relief and biting wit. I especially like the character of Dot. In the first book, she was a very plumb young Never (evil) witch who turned everything she touched into chocolate. She was constantly eating chocolate. In the 2nd book, she now is slim and beautiful, turning everything she touches into vegetables, which she is constantly eating.  And she really doesn't want to return to being a Never. She's made friends and enjoys being beautiful and taking care of herself.  I look forward to seeing how she is in the 3rd book.

This series is fantastic for upper elementary, middle school, or anyone who loves great stories dealing with fairy tales. It's not full of fairy tales, but it just has that fantastic quality to it. I can't wait to read the next book!

The School of Good and Evil

by Soman Chainani

What if everything you thought you knew about fairy tales was backwards? What if what you thought was good was really evil? And what you thought was evil was really good? That is the premise of this fantastic story.

The two main characters are Sophie and Agatha, best friends from two different worlds. They both live in a small village outside a giant, foreboding woods that no one can escape. Sophie thinks she is a princess. She dresses in pink and has a ridiculous fashion regiment that includes all sorts of weird things. She knows she doesn't belong in the village, but she tolerates it all until her time comes to be what she knows she is: a princess in a fairy tale.

Her best friend, Agatha, is the complete opposite of Sophie. Where Sophie is light, Agatha is dark. Where Sophie is smiles and fluff, Agatha is frowns and seriousness. Where Sophie dresses in pink, Agatha wears only a unshapely, black shift. But Sophie knows they are destined for great things together.

When they are kidnapped by the School Master (who only comes every 4 years to kidnap a good person and evil person), Sophie knows her time has come. Agatha just wants to go home. She doesn't want to be separated from Sophie, and she doesn't want to be evil. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned.

Sophie is dropped off at the School of Evil where wolves control, ugliness rules, and wickedness thrives. Sophie knows she doesn't belong there and does everything in her power to escape to the School of Good across the way. Everyone in her school also knows she doesn't belong either.

While Sophie is at the School of Evil trying desperately to get to the School of Good to be a princess and find her prince, Agatha is dropped off at the School of Good, where everyone agrees she doesn't belong. Her goal is to get Sophie and get home. So they decide to work together.

Agatha helps Sophie, but Sophie's motives are pure. In the end, it is clear that the girls were dropped at the correct schools. Agatha is pure of heart, proving she is a princess. She even finds a prince who sees her beauty inside. Sophie is selfish and wicked, and with every evil deed, she turns even more ugly until she is a hideous witch. The tables keep turning though until there is a surprise ending.  Agatha saves Sophie and they are whisked away back to their village and away from Agatha's handsome prince.

What I thought: I thought this was a wonderful book. It was fun and engaging. It had amazing, complex characters that kept you on your toes. You were anxious to find out what happened to Sophie and Agatha and discover how their stories turned out. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. It's a trilogy!!

This is a great book for upper elementary, middle school, young adult, and anyone who enjoys a good story that has fairy tale aspects to it. It's good for boys and girls.

Inheritance series

By Christopher Paolini

One of the things my boys and I like to do is listen to audio books in the van. We listen on the way to and from school and on any trips we take. They love it, and they hate when we have to stop. 

It all started last summer when I took all 4 boys to MN by  myself to visit my parents. We couldn't watch videos so I thought we'd try books. That was one of the best idea I've ever had. Since last summer, we've listened to all of the Peter and the Starcatchers books by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, all of the Sisters' Grimm novels by Michael Buckley, The Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner, and a variety of other books. Last spring we started the Inheritance series because I thought the boys would like the dragons and adventure, and we just finished this week with the 4th book.

These books are like the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars rolled into one. There's action and adventure, battles and travel, elves, dwarves, urgals, and dragon riders. There's an evil, tyrant ruler (Galbatorix) and the rebels (the Varden) who are trying to get back control of the empire from him. And all of it rests on the shoulders of one young man named Eragon.

In the beginning, Eragon is just a 16 year old boy who lives with him uncle and cousin on their farm. He's nothing special, and his future looks boring. Until a large blue rock drops near him while he's hunting. He takes it home and it hatches. A beautiful blue dragon appears and chooses Eragon as her rider. He names her Sapphira, and they leave his home. Along their travels, they learn and grow, meet new people and discover enemies. He helps the Varden thwart Galbatorix, becomes an adopted dwarf, journeys to an elven city to learn from a hidden dragon rider, goes back to helping the Varden, fights against another dragon rider under Galbatorix's control (who just so happens to be his half brother), and falls in love. All of this leads to the final battle between the Varden and Galbatorix's army. Eragon is the only one who can defeat him, even if Galbatorix is stronger and wiser.

In the end, Eragon vanquishes Galbatorix as only he can. The Varden take over, and Eragon decides to leave to raise dragon eggs and riders somewhere more safe and remote.

What I liked: This books has lots of great characters with depth and complexities. Some of the side characters are especially great.  I really wish the author would write the back story on Angela. She's one of my favorite characters.  Also, the visuals and descriptions are fantastic! You can really picture everything in your mind. The story is engaging and exciting. My boys and I give it all a big thumb's up!!!

What I didn't like: Some of the descriptions were a little too much. Also, there were some scenes that were a little unnecessary. Sometimes it felt as if he were just trying to make it as long as possible.

This series is great for boys and girls, ages middle school and up. My boys loved it and always begging to hear more, but after listening to it, I think I should have waited a little longer to share this story with them. Some of the battle scenes were a little graphic, and I don't think that was good for my younger sons.