Dare by Mimi Wahlfeldt: Book Review

 3.5/5

This book was sent to me by the author for review, and has not impacted the outcome of the review. The views and opinions presented are mine and mine alone.

Dare had a good introductory sentence and chapter. It draws the reader in and makes them want to find out more about what has happened. I did find it kind of odd that she is just waking up and already the nurses and police know that she doesn't remember what happened to her. Not everyone loses their memory after such events, so it doesn't seem like a plausible assumption. More needed to be done to make them come to that conclusion. That being said, the descriptive writing was expertly done and used to build the story. In turn, this carried into very well developed characters. I love depth in characters and Mimi does this with skill. 

One thing that I don't like when I read, is headers telling me how much later something is, or how long its been since something happened. I don't need a header, just tell me that information in the body of writing itself. Its distracting. At parts, Dare, got slow and struggled to keep my attention, there was just too much fluff in the writing. This was things that seemed like filler and was unnecessary. Everything in writing should serve a purpose. However, the concept of the book was really good and the emotional journey is compelling. The main character's frustration with the justice system is also well thought out and expertly put to paper. Without any spoilers being involved, the Covid angle, I felt was distracting from the main storyline. Along that same line, of not giving out spoilers, the twist was kind of predictable, and read as only okay to me. I was looking for something more out of that. 

Overall, if you enjoy an emotional book filled with personal struggles and healing, this is probably the book for you.  

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (3 Stars)
Hazel has been battling cancer for quite sometime. Unable to breathe on her own, she relies on a breathing apparatus to help her do what most take for granted. She is in a routine that works for her family, until she meets Augustus Waters. He has been cancer-free for a while, at the cost of his leg. He provides her with happiness, something she did not even realize she was missing. Wrapped in an author who may not be what he seems, they find comfort in his novel. Life seems to be looking up again, until it all fall apart.
This is the second John Green book my wife and I have read together (Paper Towns being the other), both books seem to have the same basic issue; John Green likes to use big words. His use of big words distracts from the plot, his characters use these words in sentences where people would not use them, and he makes it seem commonplace. In the end this just comes across as ostentatious and pretentious. Rant over.
His characters are well rounded and have depth rarely seen in novels these days. The situations they are in are heartwarming at times, and heart wrenching at other times. Loved the overall plot and how things flowed. I do wonder what his obsession with his characters egging cars is? Although in this novel it was rather amusing. I must say with both this book and Paper Towns,  I enjoyed the movies more than the books, a rarity for me. 
Would I pick up another one of his books? Probably not, although I know many out there who would disagree with that!

Book Review- Joyce Sweeney- Free Fall

Joyce Sweeney- Free Fall 1.25 Stars

Neil, his brother David, best friend Randy, and his brother’s friend Terry, all decide to go cave exploring. A morning of fun, and then off to work, that was the plan. They never imagined that they could possibly get lost within that cave and its network of tunnels. Now they are fighting to find a way out of the cave before it takes all of their lives.

The introduction nearly lost me. It was tedious and took too long to get to the point of the novel. It never really grabbed my attention, just plodded along barely keeping me reading. The book had a good basic plot, but was just lacking that certain wow factor. The characters were a redeeming quality. They were very well done, and had depth. I loved to see the personal struggles of each character and how the cave made them face each fear/struggle. Overall though, I would not recommend this book.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Lawrence Hill- The Book of Negroes

Lawrence Hill- The Book of Negroes/Someone Knows My Name 4.5 Stars

Aminata Diallo is letting everyone know her life story while she is living in London, England during the 19^th century. She was just eleven years old when she was stolen from her village and witnessed the murder of her parents. Sold into the slave trade, she experienced many horrors along the way as they take her to America. As she struggles to gain her way to freedom, she finds herself writing a ledger recording names in the “Book of Negroes”. Travelling by boat she finally ends up in Nova Scotia with many others.

This is a wonderful novel. A tough read about the brutal treatment of black slaves. It was captivating and really hard to put down. It was beautifully written and had a plot that was brilliantly crafted. The characters seemed to jump off of every page and assisted the story with every turn. The way that they were treated was awful and it was dreadful how they justified it by making it sound as if it was providing a better life for them. I do get tired of how this is brought up time and time again in society now, as I would love to see the world learn from the mistakes and move on, but at the same time it makes for a good read that draws you in as you get caught up in the hardships they had to face. I do not read these kinds of books too often as they are too difficult to think about. Overall this was a great epic tale that will easily become a Canadian classic.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Ann Rinaldi- Girl in Blue

Ann Rinaldi- Girl in Blue 2.75 Stars

Sarah Louisa has been told by her father that she is going to marry a neighbour she has no intentions of marrying. Now with the Civil War beginning, she is running of to sneak into the army as a soldier. She must struggle through army life and keep her real identity a secret for fear of being kicked out. Learning new skills is what will keep her safe, including figuring out how to be an effective spy.

The novel starts off a little slow, but does pick up enough to keep the reader interested. That being said, I never really had any wow moments when reading. It was an intriguing storyline though, with a great overall concept. I would have liked to have seen her remain as a soldier instead of taking her off into the spy business, but I understand what the author was trying to do here. The characters were a redeeming quality in this novel, being very well crafted. I do also love books about the Civil War and this time period. Overall this book fell a little flat for me and would not be one I would pick up and reread.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Avi- Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Avi- Crispin: The Cross of Lead (2004) 3.5 Stars

One day Asta died and suddenly her son was left alone. After finding out he was christened with a royal name, Crispin, he finds himself on the run. Everyone wants him dead and he has no idea why. Medieval England is an intimidating place for a servant boy with no friends. Coming across a man named Bear, may just have been the best thing that happened to him. At least now he has someone looking out for him.

Starting off a little slow, it did pick up the pace fairly quickly. It wasn’t ever really gripping until the end, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading. I love this time period and found it cool to see how they wound their way through the countryside. The characters were captivating, although I am not sure why it took Crispin so long to figure things out. The plot was good, but there weren’t a lot of twists. I did love the ending though, it was very exciting and was a great conclusion of events.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- John J Nance- Pandora’s Clock

John J Nance- Pandora’s Clock (St. Martin’s Press 1996) 3.25 Stars

When a shipment of vials is sent to the wrong place and one is broken, a deadly level 4 pathogen is released. One of the infected workers escapes and he gives the virus to a professor before the professor gets on a 747 flight back to the States. When he dies of a heart attack on flight, no one will let the plane land for fear of spreading the virus to other countries. To prevent them from landing, somebody is willing to blow them out of the sky. Captain Holland is in a race against the clock and a battle of wits with the whole world.

The introduction was okay, not really gripping, but interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading. The overall plot was very fast-paced. It kept me on the edge of my seat. The storyline was good, although not deep. It was a very intriguing read. I did find that it changed from person to person way too often, which made it really hard to stay focused. It also made it impossible to get connected to any one character, or really place your finger on a main character. I was hoping for more depth in character. The epilogue was extremely cheesy and I felt the book would have been stronger without it. Overall it was a decent one time read.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Jaye Murray- Bottled Up

Jaye Murray- Bottled Up (Speak 2004) 4.25 Stars

Pip lives in an abusive alcoholic family and takes care of his little brother. He lives to skip class, drink, and get high, but now his principal has had enough. He must attend all his classes, stop doing drugs, and see a counsellor or his dad will get a phone call, which will lead to more trouble than Pip wishes to see.

I enjoyed the first two sentences, they made me chuckle. The book took a bit to get into, but it really was a touching book. It tugged on the strings of my youth care worker heart. I felt bad for the main character and enjoyed seeing the toughness of the principal as he tries to help Pip. The characters were very well done and helped the books rating. I also thought that storyline and progression of the book was quite good. This author knows her stuff and I would read more by her. Overall I really liked this book and would highly recommend it.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Kate Morgenroth- Jude

Kate Morgenroth- Jude (Simon Pulse 2006) 4 Stars

Jude is fifteen and living with his abusive, drug dealing father, when one day he is murdered before Jude’s eyes. The killer makes him swear not to say anything, and so he refuses to tell the police who did it. Now he has just found out who his mother is and will be going to live with her. Winning her approval will involve an attempt at helping further her political position, only it backfires and will result in a hunt for revenge.

The book started off well. It gets you into the thick of it immediately and so you want to know just what is happening and what is going to be the result. It was interesting to see Jude’s desire to win his mother’s approval and how disastrous it seems to be for him. It was also very sad throughout the book; I cannot give too many details on that without giving out spoilers. Even the ending is bittersweet and I am not really sure just what I think of it. The characters are very well done and have some great depth. I am not sure what I think of the underlying message of this novel as it is kind of negative and doesn’t really promote trust. Overall though I enjoyed this novel and would certainly recommend it.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Gary Paulsen- Harris and Me

Gary Paulsen- Harris and Me (Dell Books 1993) 4.5 Stars

Eleven years old and used to living in the city with his drunken parents, he now has to spend the summer on a backwoods farm with his cousin Harris. Learning the ropes of working on a farm, he will be working harder than he has ever had to work in his life. At the same time he is having more fun with his cousin than he has had at any point in his life. From attacking pigs, to catching mice, life couldn’t be better. If only he didn’t have to leave.

I loved this book. Watching a boy go from having to live with neglectful parents who want nothing more than a good drink, find a place where he belongs, is wonderful. I enjoyed seeing all the trouble this pair got into at the leading of Harris. The characters in this book were very well done and seemed to jump off of every page. I chuckled many times reading this novel. The plot wasn’t deep, but it really did not need to be, it was more about the exploits of Harris and watching the main character find himself. It was rather odd that I don’t recall ever finding out the main character’s name. The ending was very sad, but touching at the same time, this made it more realistic than if it ended in a happy-go-lucky manner. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book and would easily slap my recommendation on it.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Patricia Hermes - Fly Away Home

Patricia Hermes- Fly Away Home (Little, Brown Canada 1996 ) 3.75 Stars

Amy Alden has been forced to move from New Zealand to Canada after her mother passes away and she comes to live with her father. When construction workers jump the gun in the marsh nearby Canada Geese eggs are left for dead by the parents. Now Amy is going to raise the hatchlings which may just lead to more challenges, like teaching them to migrate.

I remembered hearing a lot about this movie growing up, but never actually watched it, so it was kind of neat to read the book. It was kind of a little slow all the way through, but it was still interesting to see Amy adjust to living with her Dad and not her Mom. I liked seeing her go through the emotional side of separated parents. The plot wasn’t overly deep, but it really did not need to be for this storyline. It had the appropriate challenges being faced in order to make things interesting. The character were very well crafted and seemed to jump off of every page. Anyone who loves a good animal story will certainly enjoy this book.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Sara Gruen- Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen- Water for Elephants (Harper Perennial 2011) 4 Stars

Jacob has just lost his parents in the middle of the depression and leaving during his final veterinarian exams, he hops on a random train in the hopes of leaving his problems behind. Now he is part of the circus and he is using his vet skills to look after their animals. He has now found two things he loves, Rosie an elephant, and Marlena a married woman, whose husband’s mood swings make her a prime target of abuse. Trapped and not sure what to do, he may be forced into action as the circus crumbles around him.

The introduction was very good; it gets you into the book immediately, making you want to find out how this outtake is going to fit into the rest of the book. The plot was interesting, taking shape beautifully as it carried you through the life of this elderly man. It switched back and forth from past to present smoothly. Normally these shifts annoy me, but with this book it seemed natural. It was wonderfully told and captivated my attention. I did find myself wishing for less smut, as it really was not necessary. The characters jumped off of every page. They were very well done. The circus setting was unique, as you do not see many books about the circus, keeping this one fresh. The author also must have done a lot of research and showed this in the book. I also enjoyed the conclusion, it was a fitting way to end the novel. Overall, I think that this book is worth the hype and plan to watch the movie now that I have read the book.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Todd Strasser- Free Willy

Todd Strasser- Free Willy (Scholastic 1993) 2.25 Stars

Jesse has been running away from foster homes all his life, preferring to live on the streets. Now he is with a new foster family and he has a new friend, Willy, a killer whale at the local aquarium. When Willy refuses to perform, the aquarium’s owner decides to try collecting on Willy’s insurance policy. There is just one problem; Willy must be dead in order to collect. Can Jesse save his friend in time?

I liked the introduction, not because it was particularly interesting, but because of the street kids. The youth care worker in me felt for these kids. I found the plot to be rather shallow, and lacking in many ways. At no point did it ever really grab me and make me say, “Hey this is a good book!” The characters were decent, but could have been stronger, which might have made the book a little better. It was interesting to see the connection between a boy and an animal. Overall I was pretty disappointed in this book. The movie was way better, and I do not say that very often.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Phyllis Reynolds Naylor- Shiloh

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor- Shiloh (Dell Yearling1991) 3.25 Stars

When a young beagle follows 11-year-old Marty Preston home, he has no idea just what he is in for. The dog shows signs of being abused, but Marty’s parents make him bring the dog back home. Marty has grown to love the dog and will not let it live a life of cruelty. He will do whatever it takes to save the dog he has named Shiloh, even if it means holding the dog secretly.

I read this book when I was in school, but could not recall what I thought of it, although I do remember my brother loving this novel. I found that it was a rather slow moving novel that was kind of hard to get into. I think that animal lovers would enjoy the book a lot more than I did. The characters were really well done; they jumped off of every page. However the plot was shallow and was lacking that certain something that would have grabbed me and drawn me in. That being said, it was beautifully written and you can see the author’s skill on every page. Overall it was an okay book.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- David Baldacci- The Christmas Train

David Baldacci- The Christmas Train (Warner Books 2004) 3 Stars

After an unruly airport moment, Tom Langdon has been banned from all American airlines for two years. Now he finds himself on a journey across America by train. He is supposed be meeting his girlfriend in time for Christmas, but he never anticipated all that he would encounter on his soul searching trip.

I thought that this novel was alright. I may have enjoyed it more if I was into romance type novels. The characters were very strong, and memorable; Baldacci’s writing skill shone through with every page. The plot was not deep, but it was not meant to be. It also had many twists and turns that drove the book forward. Everyone on board the train was searching for something. My main complaint was that I was getting bored, but that may be the thriller-enthusiast in me. It was a cutesy story, and I am not really into that. I also felt that it was a little, I don’t know, unlikely to happen the way that it did in too many places. That being said Baldacci is an amazing author and I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good romance, or enjoys Christmas-themed books.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Robert Louis Stevenson- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Washington Square Press 1995) 2.75 Stars

I do not think I need to explain this novel as you should all know the basic idea of the book, so I will go straight into my thoughts. This was my first time actually reading this book, and I was not overly impressed by it. I found that there was not much point to the book. The plot did not have a lot of depth to it. I always imagined that we would see more of the inner struggle between Jekyll and Hyde, but we don’t learn about it until the final chapter where Jekyll explains everything via a letter. The perspective was kind of a surprise for me, not sure what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t like that. Not saying it was a bad perspective, it just wasn’t what I expected. I did like the characters, although we don’t learn a lot about any of them in particular. This one kind of made me scratch my head and wonder just why it has become a classic.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Tony Earley- Jim the Boy

Tony Earley- Jim the Boy (Little, Brown and Company 2001) 4.75 Stars

After Jim Glass passed away leaving behind an expecting wife, Cissy sees no other choice than to call her son Jim Glass in honour of the man she loved. Now Jim is ten years old and he lives with his mother during the Great Depression. His three uncles are left to teach him the responsibilities of being a man. He is trying to learn the breaks and now his school has been combined with all of the outlying schools, including the mountain country where his father was raised, bringing in students who know more about Jim’s family history than he does, including stories of a grumpy grandfather whom his mother has forbidden to ever see him. Being a ten-year-old boy is turning out to be harder than he could have ever imagined.

I read Blue Star the heart warming sequel to Jim the Boy last year and I knew that I just had to read this one. Earley has such a talent for story telling. It made me feel like I was right there along with Jim Glass going through his preteen lessons and heartaches. I enjoyed this book immensely and was up late last night as I could not get enough of it. The characters are so rich and full of life that they jump off of every page; you cannot help but feel like they are right there with you. I enjoyed seeing this one year period of Jim Glass’ life and was touched by how he had to learn just what life is like, with heartache, regrets, joys, and most importantly a loving family. This gives Blue Star some background and will make rereading it more enjoyable. I will be rereading both books with my wife and definitely recommend reading these two books to everyone.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Charles Dickens- David Copperfield

Charles Dickens- David Copperfield (Moby Books 1979) 3 Stars

David Copperfield found himself orphaned when he was just a small boy, after his mother passed away, leaving him with a stepfather who treated him badly. After the stepfather abandons him he must try to make it on his own. He goes through tough times, but manages to make good friends along the way. Then with the help of an aunt he must struggle to find a career and make something of his life. David Copperfield is a tale of betrayal, jealousy, cruelty, and love, resulting in his finding out what it means to truly be happy.

David Copperfield started off as a happy tale, but quickly became one of sorrow. Dickens brings the reader through a life of hardship and yet shows that even with what seems like a hard life, happiness is still achievable, it is all in how we look at life. I enjoyed the ending of this book as it kind of makes the reader warm and fuzzy. I did find that the book was rather boring and slow at times and kind of dragged on. The quality of writing was impressive, it is no wonder Charles Dickens was a famous and popular author who is still read today. The characters were very well created and woven into the tale beautifully, although I think that we saw too many characters that the reader is supposed to try to keep track of. I would only recommend this book to those who like classics.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

Book Review- Tony Earley- The Blue Star

Tony Earley- The Blue Star (Little, Brown and Company 2009) 4 Stars

Jim Glass is learning what it is like to grow up. He has found a girl that he loves with just one problem, she has a fiancé overseas. Jim must now learn what it is like to not have what he wants most, to be just friends with the girl of his dreams. With World War II just starting he must consider doing his duty and signing up. Meanwhile his best friend seems to have problems of his own and Jim must try to keep him from getting himself killed.

I was surprised to find myself enjoying The Blue Star as it is not my usual reading. Tony Early writes a captivating tale of Jim Glass and his adventures while he is learning to grow up. The storyline is slow moving and yet it still managed to hold my attention all the way through. The characters were amazingly real; it was like they all jumped off of every page. It was a fairly serious book, but I still found myself laughing at some of the situations Jim and his best friend, Dennis Deane, found themselves in. It was also interesting to see the cultural differences between their time period and ours. As for plot there was not a lot going on plot-wise, but I do not believe that it really needed a lot. The book read more like a campfire tale that your grandparents would tell you.

I recommend The Blue Star to anyone looking for a beautiful tale of times past.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Jeffrey Archer- A Prisoner of Birth

Jeffrey Archer- A Prisoner of Birth (St. Martin’s Press 2008) 3.5 Stars

Danny Cartwright just proposed to Beth Wilson, his pregnant girlfriend, and life seemed so perfect. Suddenly though he finds himself arrested and charged for a murder he did not commit. When four well-respected witnesses testify against him, one of whom is actually guilty, he is sentenced to twenty-two years in prison. The four think that they have gotten away with it, but they underestimated Danny and Beth’s determination and ability to get their revenge.

Not an Archer fan I was happy to find one of his books that I could enjoy. A Prisoner of Birth was a fairly good book. The plot was very interesting and intriguing. I did find that a couple of parts were a little bit farfetched, but still enjoyable. Danny was a deep and complex character, but was the only character I felt was developed for the reader. Some sections were slow, but I found that if you pushed past them you found out important details. I liked the European setting that was explored as it was not the parts of London books and movies often focus on.

I recommend A Prisoner of Birth to anyone looking for a good drama and any Archer fans.

For more of my book reviews check out my website, http://www.tonypeters.webs.com/

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html