A Book Review: Half Magic

    Here is another good book which is sure to be an enchanting addition to your summer reading list! This book and series is a bit older, but in my opinion just as good as Begin and its sequels.

    I've personally enjoyed this book and the rest of the books in the series, and hope it'll be a hit with fans of historical fiction, adventure, and of course, magic.

     There may be minor spoilers as I try to give an accurate picture of the book.

    (The discussion questions will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)

A Book Review: Begin

    As summer 's just around the corner (and summer break is happening super early for some of us), it's definitely the time to kick back and read! My first book review *insert excited grin here* is a heartwarming, adventurous tale which will hopefully become one of your new favorites.

   

    Let's get started!  There may be minor spoilers as I try to give an accurate picture of the book.

    (The discussion questions will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)

Books and Blogging

If you’re like me, books are important to you. Whether we’re reading Kindles, hardcovers, or paperbacks, we’re the ones who delve into characters’ heads. Explore made-up worlds. Peek at times long gone. We laugh, cry, and learn as we journey through hundreds of good books that impact our lives, in large and small ways.

Is it just me, or do those good books seem harder to find?

I'm JadeSky, and I’m starting this blog out of my own desire to read these types of books. I’m a Christian, and often I have to hunt for stories that are engrossing and full of emotion, but also appropriate to my beliefs.

I’ve decided to name this blog “Stepping Stones Book Reviews” because I think that each book we read is sort of a stepping stone. They may not guide your life entirely, but you certainly touch on them and remember them the rest of your life, whether your opinion of them was good or bad.

I will be reviewing a variety of fiction here. Not all of it is labeled “Christian”, but I believe that Christian book lovers should sift through the issues presented in these types of books—not glorifying them, but using them as tools to learn and teach others about truth.

I will do my best to provide a full list of what to expect in each book and let parents and readers decide for themselves what they can handle.

Each week (unless circumstances change) I will post a review of a book which targets readers ages 8 and up of any interest and genre. Right now I’m focusing on some of my favorites, but I am definitely welcome to suggestions on books to review.

I hope that my reviews will inspire kids and teens to keep searching for good literature, as well as provide information for parents who want to know what their kids are reading, and families who want to spend time enjoying stories.

I’m not a professional, a librarian, or a major in literature, but I am passionate about building good libraries and “getting lost” in the type of stories that book lovers are proud to have read or listened to.

All of the subjects I am currently rating each book on are listed below, with a short description for each one. I’m excited about starting this and hope you are, too!

-JadeSky

A Typical Book Review

Title: (the title and subtitles of the book)

Author: (the pen name or name of author)

Series: (noted if part of a series)

Targeted Age Range: (the age group/range promoted for the book)

Synopsis: (a short description of the book, taken from its covers or its Amazon page)

Language: (any insults, used language, and mentions of language here—actual swearing is indicated with the first letter, but toned down versions will include all of the word)

Violence: (any violence/mentions of violence here)

Romance/Sexual Stuff: (any romance in the story/sexual mentions or issues listed here)

Spiritual Elements: (any practiced or mentioned religion/spirituality here)

Magic: (any practiced or mentioned magic here and how it is used in the story)

References: (any references to celebrities/pop culture/books/movies/music/TV shows/other media listed here)

Other Issues: (any other things to know listed here)

Where To Buy: The main outlets that carry the book, including links to their websites

My Age Range: (the age range who I think is ready for this book, with the exception of especially sensitive people)

Read Aloud: (is this book better/ able to be read aloud, or better read on your own?)

My Opinion: (what I thought of the book/my experiences and emotions with the book)

Discussion Questions: (Only for those that choose to read—here are some questions related to the story that you can think about on your own, or discuss with family members or friends. Occasionally there will be a link to discussion questions created by the author, publisher, or another blogger.)

    (The photos used were taken by Ed Robertson, Aung Soe Min, Jamie Street, and Ben White of Unsplash.)