The White Gipsy

Summary:  This book is about a boy named Willie, who is captured by a gipsy woman after flying out of a train in a train accident.  His family believes him to be dead, because his body was never found.  After a few years of being with the gipsy family, another family finds out that he is not really a gipsy and that he had been stolen, so they buy him from the gipsy family and raise him as their own.  Eventually, Willie and George (one of the family's sons) go off to boarding school, and there they meet Willie's real little brother, although they don't know it's Willie's brother because Willie can't remember anything...  And I'll not say anymore so as to avoid spoiling the story!  =)

Cons:
The only things are that the gipsies are mean to Willie and drug him so that he can't remember anything.  Also later, two of the boys in the boarding school get involved with gambling and betting, but they are caught and expelled from the school.

Pros:
Throughout the book, faith in God is prevalent, and that is one thing that Willie remembers after the accident.
He shows kindness to a boy that no one else wants to befriend, and sticks up for him when he gets in trouble, taking the punishment for him.
This is a neat story of reconciliation!  =)

By Darkness Hid

By Darkness Hid - Jill Williamson

Summary from Amazon.com (Sorry, I'm lazy today): Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible.

Cons: 
I can't think of any at the moment...

Pros:
Jill Williamson's writing is beautiful, and the Christian messages are strong. I encourage all who love knights and castles to read this book and the following two. It's packed with action, fun characters, and life lessons for everyone. The first book will leave you dying to read the next two. I actually listened to this whole book and the second book on Jill Williamson's website. Unfortunately, I couldn't help but buy the third one after listening to the others. So, be warned. :) My siblings have all enjoyed listening to and reading these books. We still talk about them and laugh about all the funny parts and characters. You don't easily forget the characters. They stick in your memory like real people. The author did a wonderful job at making them like real people, with flaws, senses of humor, longings, and dreams. I would suggest this book to readers ages 12 & up.

Survival In The Storm: The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards

Summary:  This book in written in journal form; about a girl named Grace and her family.  It is set during the Dust Bowl and is about this family's struggle to keep going amidst the troubles they face.  Several families end up leaving, but Grace's family is one of the few that stay.  This is a very interesting book that gives you insight into what it might have been like to live during the Dust Bowl!

Cons:
Grace doesn't have a very nice attitude toward her younger sister at times; mostly due to the fact that the mother spoils the little girl and coddles her.

Pros:
I like how this family's faith is prevalent and mentioned often in this book.  They turn to God for help and mention Him often.
This book is also quite entertaining, and Grace learns a lesson of forgiveness towards the end, as well.

Ages: 8 and up 

Evangeline

  Evangeline--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summary--The poem about Evangeline is a fictional tale which highlights the true plight of the French Acadians, who were uprooted from their homes in Nova Scotia by the British in 1755 and forcibly dispersed and separated. Evangeline, who is separated from her betrothed, searches all over America for her lover until she is old and grey.

Con's--I'm not much of a connoisseur of poetical tragedies and this certainly is one.

Pro's--Even though this book was written in a poetical style, I still found myself sucked in to Evangeline's search for her stolen lover. It was well written and presents a lot of history and culture.

I would recommend this book for age 12 and up based on the level of difficulty. There is nothing a younger child should not read. Three Stars.