 Rated: PG-13 for martial arts violence Starring: Ted Jan Roberts, Karen Valentine, and John O'Hurley Released: October 24, 1995 (VHS) | The Power Within: Though largely inoffensive for a PG-13 film, The Power Within feels like it should have been a video game instead of a movie. When hearing the fantastical history of the rings, and watching the action sequences, I couldn't help but think of the old-school "beat 'em up" games, such as Double Dragon or Street Fighter. The cheesiness of it all makes it seem like a product of the "decade of excess" instead of a 1995 release. Martial arts fans will probably enjoy this, but others should find something else to watch. Content Concerns: Even though the film wasn't very good, as noted above, its quotient of offensive content is low for a PG-13 movie. There are less than ten profanities (that I heard, anyway). The "martial arts action violence" noted by the MPAA is neither bloody nor graphic; however, two intense scenes--a guy gets hit by a car, and it isn't fatal; another guy gets stabbed, and it appears to be deadly--might be a bit much for some folks. Sexual content is limited to hearing of two high school kids renting a hotel room; it's never said that they actually do, though. At the beginning, one buxom woman is seen in a low-cut outfit, and two others are briefly seen in bikinis. Two main female characters tend to wear skirts that are a little on the short side. All that is small potatoes compared to the "R-lite" movies that are called PG-13 today. Score: 2/5 |
 Rated: Not Rated (US) / PG (Canadian Home Video Rating) (Dove approved for ages twelve and up) Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Louise Lombard, and Jurgen Prochnow Released: March 2, 2010 (DVD) | Esther (The Bible Stories): This movie is based on the only book in the Bible that does not mention God by name, but it does the story justice. Though not perfect, it makes for quite enthralling viewing, and might be good for a middle school, high school, or adult Bible class after a study of the Biblical book. (It would not be appropriate for younger kids, though; see the Content Concerns below for why.) Anyone who has watched and enjoyed other well-made flicks based on God's Word, such as The Gospel of John or In the Beginning..., will find plenty to like about Esther. Content Concerns: Though largely true to the Biblical account, some of this movie is not for little children. Most notable are the scenes where Esther and the King consummate their relationship; though handled with more decorum than you're likely to see on pretty much any network sitcom these days, it still would be a bit much for the very young. Violence includes a character being hung--do you know who?--though that is mostly implied. Some of the emotionally intense scenes could freak some folks out. Score: 4.25/5 |
01 August 2013
Quickie Movie Reviews for July 2013
Quickie Book Reviews for July 2013
 | Star Wars: Darksaber by Kevin J. Anderson: Despite all the critical drubbing he seems to get, I usually enjoy the writings of Kevin J. Anderson. Whether it was his Jedi Academy trilogy, or his DC-Comics-based works (The Last Days of Krypton, Enemies and Allies), I almost always thought they were better than others did. However, as much as I hate to say it, this one was yet another disappointment from the Star Wars expanded universe. Only somewhat interesting, a bit hard to follow, lacking in action...that's not what I want from a space opera novel. Content Concerns: Two or three profanities, and some slight violence. Score: 2.25/5 |
 | Colorado (Celebrate the States) by Eleanor H. Ayer: When
I was in third grade, my teacher had a display of posters about foreign
countries, alongside the words, "If you can't go...read about it!"
Almost a decade and a half later, I am taking her advice by reading
books about places that I have yet to go, this being the first one.
Full of facts about everything from the history of the state to famous
folks from Colorado, it's everything one might want to know about the
state, all in one convenient package. Content Concerns: Homosexuality and gambling get mentioned briefly. Score: 4/5 |
 | Halflings (Halflings, No. 1) by Heather Burch: I
was a big-time Nintendo fan when I was younger, and one of my favorite
franchises of the Big N's was Pokémon. Though I liked all of the
games--at least, the ones I played--what I didn't like was how other
two-bit game companies were trying to ride off of the success of Ash,
Pikachu, and friends. There were so many rip-offs for the Game Boy
systems alone--Robopon, Dokapon, Dragon Warrior Monsters, etc.--that Nintendo Power even said, "Just about every Game Boy [game] with a three-syllable title ending in 'on' is some sort of Pokémon clone." I mention that because the Halflings series feels like nothing more than a big rip-off of Twilight. I've never read any of Stephenie Meyer's books or even seen any of the movies, but, from what I know about the series, it seems like many of the details are the same. Love between a human girl and a non-human male? A love triangle? Action and suspense? Come on, Christian authors; don't you have any original ideas? (Ted Dekker, Melody Carlson, and Bill Myers' works prove that the answer is "yes".) Content Concerns: So, you still want to read this mess? Okay, then: Supernatural violence is present, including the killing of an animal by a demonic being. A character risks eternal damnation for romantic love. (This is supposed to be a Christian book!) Score: 1.25/5 |
 | Back Home Again (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, No. 1) by Melody Carlson: The start of a expansive multi-author series, Back Home Again made for an easy, quick, and enjoyable read. Like the series premiere of a TV show, the book sets up characters and relationships for later in the series. Fans of other small-town, Christian series such as Jan Karon's Mitford will definitely enjoy this. Content Concerns: Nothing in this department; it was completely innocent. Score: 4/5 |
 | On a Whim (Katie Weldon, No. 2) by Robin Jones Gunn: Continuing
the seemingly never-ending life and times of Christy Miller, Katie
Weldon, and friends, this book features Katie continuing to deal with
the stresses of everything from her relationship with Rick Doyle, to her
car breaking down, to her strained interactions with her mother.
Anyone who has enjoyed the books leading up to this one should find
plenty to love about it. It also makes a good point: Even when
interactions with the opposite gender seemingly stay friendly, they can
lead to problems! (Katie definitely learns that lesson here.) Score: 4/5 |
 | Supernova (Star Power, No. 1) by Catherine Hapka: Star Calloway is just that--a star--at only fourteen years old. Along with the normal teenage drama, she has to deal with stop-at-nothing paparazzi and jealous fellow celebrities. Though nothing special, it will likely appeal to young fans of music-themed kiddie shows and movies such as High School Musical, VICTORiOUS, or Austin & Ally. Content Concerns: Nothing worse than two girls referring to a male celebrity as "yummy" and a use of the euphemism "freakin'". Definitely as innocent as the average DCOM or G-rated film. Score: 3.5/5 |
 | Timefall (Timefall, No. 1) by James Kahn: James Kahn, author of the original Return of the Jedi novelization, weaves his own sci-fi fantasy tale in Timefall, a book which combines elements of Lucasfilm's Indiana Jones and Christopher Nolan's Inception.
The story definitely enraptured me; compared to the other books I've
been reading lately, the writing and flow of the plot is amazing. Fans
of time-travel stories and/or mind-bending tales should definitely seek
this out, although it may prove hard to find, as it appears to be out of
print. Content Concerns: Roughly ten profanities, including a single use of an unfit-for-network TV expression. The violence isn't graphic, but there is a lot of intensity, and at least one character appears to die. A few sexual references are present, though there's nothing graphic, save for one almost-sex scene. Not for young children. Score: 3.75/5 |
 | Eight is Enough (Holly's Heart, No. 13) by Beverly Lewis: In this penultimate volume of Holly-Heart's life, her mom and stepdad/uncle have big news: they're expecting a baby! Holly is not too thrilled with the news, and upsets her parents with her reaction. Will Holly realize the error of her ways before it is too late? Pretty much more of the same for this series! Content Concerns: Though completely innocent, Holly acts in a improper way throughout the book. (Spoiler: She repents of it by the book's end.) Score: 3.75/5 |
 | It's a Girl Thing (Holly's Heart, No. 14) by Beverly Lewis: This literary series finale features more drama than any of the prior Holly's Heart books, but that's a good thing. If you've read Holly-Heart's adventures up to this point, you should definitely finish it off with this final volume. Content Concerns: Mention of a cesarean section might confuse some young kids. Score: 3.75/5 |
 | Fearless (Fearless, No. 1) by Francine Pascal: Gaia was born without the fear gene, and happens to not only be quite tough, but also insanely brilliant. When a female classmate ends up hospitalized because Gaia, out of disdain, failed to warn her about impending danger, things get very dicey for Miss Fearless. Things are only going to get crazier for her, though. What could have been a great action/adventure story was ruined by content--see below--and magazine-esque formatting that took up a lot of space, made the novel choppy, and seemed just weird. It's no surprise that the series is apparently sponsored by Alloy, a magazine for teenage girls; I'd expect that teen monthly would read just the same. The core story was actually passable, but everything else made it a struggle to finish. Content Concerns: Profanity abounds; the s-word and b-word are used at least three or four times each, and other expletives (the d-word, the h-word, the euphemisms "freakin'" and "jeez") all appear once or twice, if not more. God's and Jesus' names are also misused multiple times. Violence includes a young woman being stabbed--as mentioned above--and others being attacked or engaging in melees. Some sexual allusions are made, including Gaia bemoaning the fact that she is a virgin and alluding to her private anatomy. Spoiler: The final scene includes both sex and violence among teens, and a young man ends up dead as a result. Score: 1.75/5 |
 | Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry: Shadows of the Empire was probably the biggest non-movie Star Wars
event up to that point. Though no film was made, a CD soundtrack was
released, and there was a video/computer game for the Nintendo 64 and PC
based on the book. However, even all that promotion doesn't take away
from the actual novel's lackluster feel. Though not terrible, it's
merely mediocre, and the Expanded Universe has much better fare to offer
than this. Only read this if you love absolutely everything related to
Lucas' space opera, or have an insatiable curiosity about this
much-promoted book. Content Concerns: As usual, there is violence, though none of it is bloody or graphic. More notable is the sexual content, where new villain Xizor attempts to seduce Princess Leia. Additionally, gambling gets a few mentions, and profanity is implied. Score: 2.75/5 |
 | The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers: Abortion
has never affected me personally, but, as an emotionally sensitive
person, this novel still moved me nonetheless. Dynah's struggle about
what to do with her unborn child, and her desire to do the right thing
without knowing what it is, made for very gripping reading. Though it
wasn't perfect--that's why I didn't give it a perfect score--the
overwhelming emotional themes make up for any complaints I could come up
with. Content Concerns: Themes of abortion, rape, and sex outside of marriage, as well as emotional intensity, are all through this book. Anyone who is unable to understand or deal with such material should probably stay away. Score: 4.5/5 |
 | Vision of the Future (Star Wars: Hand of Thrawn, No. 2) by Timothy Zahn: Though George Lucas space opera is made up of many parts--romance, tragedy, triumph, humor, etc.--the main attractor of Star Wars for most fans is the action. Unfortunately, this last volume of a tie-in duology proved to be a bit light in that department. It still made for somewhat enjoyable reading, but it's not the lightsaber-dueling, interstellar dogfighting adventure that we got on the big screen. Content Concerns: There isn't all that much violence, but one scene does feature a few stabbings. "Shavit," which obviously sounds and looks like an English profanity, is said fully once and left unfinished another time, the latter seemingly indicating the Earth vulgarity. Score: 2.75/5 |
17 July 2013
DVD Review: "Good Luck, Charlie: Enjoy the Ride"
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| Rated: TV-G (US) / G (Canadian Home Video Rating) Starring: Bridgit Mendler, Leigh-Allyn Baker, and Mia Talerico Released: April 11, 2010 - November 27, 2011 (Disney Channel premieres) / June 18, 2013 (DVD) |
Plots: 4/5
The main reason I like the shows on Disney Channel is because they remind me of old-school programming, such as Mork & Mindy or I Love Lucy. On that front, this set delivers. The episodes go between zany, silly, and just downright bizarre, but I just couldn't help but laugh.
Production Values: 4/5
No one these days makes sitcoms like the Disney Channel. Even Nickelodeon's iCarly and VICTORiOUS, as insanely fun as they can be, aren't exactly the same as what you can find on the Mouse network. Of course, I doubt anything in this DVD set will change the minds of those who find Disney sitcoms to be inane tripe, but I would suggest at least giving the show a chance before completely brushing it off.
Content Concerns:
- Sex: A reference is made to different body parts on opposite gender babies. P. J. becomes infatuated with a female TV character who is said to always wear a bikini, though she is never seen. 3.75/5
- Nudity: Amy wears a few tops that show some slight cleavage. The Shake It Up crossover episode features CeCe (Bella Thorne) wearing an outfit that shows some slight midriff. 4/5
- Drugs: None; this is a Disney show! 5/5
- Language: The euphemism "darn" is used once. The episode "Teddy on Ice" features a sub-plot involving Charlie using bad language. (Spoiler: It is revealed that Amy taught her that word.) 4/5
- Violence: Typical sitcom slapstick. A TV show Bob watches features an alien who has a gun, and P. J. and Gabe watch a soap opera where someone gets shot (heard, not seen.) 4/5
- Frightening/Intense Scenes: Nothing in this department. 5/5
- Other: Some of the gags revolve around bathroom humor: flatulence, urination, etc. 4/5
Score: 4/5
16 July 2013
DVD Set Review: "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers": Season One, Volume Two
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| Rated: TV-Y7 for fantasy violence Starring: Austin St. John, Amy Jo Johnson, and Jason David Frank Released: November 5, 1993 - May 23, 1994 (original TV premiere) / November 20, 2012 (DVD) |
Plot: 3.5/5
The plots contained within this second volume were mostly good; however, two of the episodes--"Trick or Treat" and "Mighty Morphin' Mutants"--spent too much time with nonsensical, filler sequences. According to Wikipedia, the action sequences are merely dubbed versions of a Japanese series; maybe the makers ran out of such footage, and had to find some way to fill the nineteen-plus minutes required for an episode. Where the plots are best are, as usual, the multi-episode story arcs, because the story within is more complex.
Production Values: 3/5
Yes, it's cheesy; still, it gets the job done. The underwater battle in "An Oyster Stew" looks a bit dumb, though. As with the previous set, the video goes from moderate quality to quite grainy. In pretty much every episode, the closed captions get something wrong, whether it be what is said or the name of a character; Zordon is once referred to as "Zoldar". Aside from all that, everything else--the acting, the action sequences, etc.--are at least moderately well-done.
Content Concerns:
- Sex: Kissing, flirting...totally innocent romance. 5/5
- Nudity: Kimberly, Trini, and other young ladies are seen in midriff-baring outfits, tiny shorts, and even a bikini top once. A secondary male character wears a costume that shows part of his chest. 4/5
- Drugs: Some of the stories involve chemical-induced transformations. 4.5/5
- Language: "Dang" is used once or twice. Name-calling is prevalent; one-word insults such as "nincompoop," "geek," and "pinhead" appear in most if not all of the episodes. Probably the most disappointing use of language is when a background song during a battle says, "Come into my h---." Also of note: A weird closed captioning error takes the word "dam"--which is used in completely innocent context by the Rangers--and replaces it with the profane homophone. 3.25/5
- Violence: Martial arts battles; robot vs. villain fights; usage of fantasy-style weapons. Some of the monster attacks leave burn marks on the Rangers or their Zords. Comic slapstick violence, a la Drake & Josh, is present in every episode as well. No blood or gore, though seeing a few monsters getting impaled is a bit disturbing. 2.25/5
- Frightening/Intense Scenes: Some of the villains and scenarios could be a bit creepy to young children. One or two episodes involve Rita kidnapping family members of the Rangers. 3.25/5
- Other: Rita uses some magic that smacks of incantations and/or witchcraft. 3.75/5
Score: 4/5
12 July 2013
Movie Review: "Alleged"
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| Rated: Not Rated (Dove approved for ages twelve and up) Starring: Nathan West, Ashley Johnson, and Fred Thompson Released: November 8, 2011 (DVD/Blu-Ray) |
Warning! Possible spoilers below!
Plot: 3.5/5
It's a bit slow, but it still works. Even though the trial is largely a sham, it ends up having repercussions that are still felt around the world today. I did have a problem with the ending, though: It goes from the happiness of a wedding to the bleakness of what happened later on to the evolutionists. Also, one "big reveal" scene towards the end didn't seem to make sense.
Production Values: 4.5/5
Not much to complain about here. Well-made, great sets, excellent acting--especially from Ashley Johnson, who I only knew previously for playing youngest daughter Chrissy on Growing Pains--good soundtrack...what's not to like? The one problem I did have was that the subtitles/captions were awkwardly large, though they thankfully didn't lag like they do in many direct-to-DVD releases I've seen.
Content Concerns:
- Sex: A "reproductive issue" and sterilization are discussed; though they are not described in detail, young kids might be confused by it. 3/5
- Nudity: Rose is seen in a nightgown that shows a bit of leg. 4.5/5
- Language: One use of a b-word, and some name-calling. A racial slur is seen written on a piece of paper. 3.75/5
- Drugs: Some drinking and smoking. Charles gets drunk, and behaves weirdly and becomes ill as a result. 3/5
- Violence: A guy chases someone while shooting a gun at him. A kid kicks Charles, and a man punches him in the face. 4/5
- Frightening/Intense Scenes: Some emotional intensity. 3/5
- Other: Bodily functions--vomiting, urinating, burping--are seen, heard, and/or implied. 3.75/5
Score: 3/5
01 July 2013
Quickie Movie Reviews for June 2013
 Rated: TV-Y7 (US) / G (Canadian Home Video Rating) Starring: Drake Bell, Josh Peck, and Miranda Cosgrove Released: January 6, 2006 (Nickelodeon premiere) / January 31, 2006 (DVD) | Drake and Josh Go Hollywood: Based on the popular Nickelodeon sitcom, this movie pales in comparison to the original show. Though there are some goofy, funny moments, it still felt a bit lackluster to me. Even with a running time of merely seventy-four minutes, I still struggled to get through it. D&J fanatics have likely already watched this a thousand times, but those who are more casual fans of the show should stick to watching reruns on TeenNick, or buying the episodes via iTunes or elsewhere. Content Concerns: Plenty of slapstick violence, but no blood or gore. God's name is misused once or twice, and the brothers are referred to as "boobs," though that is crudely misinterpreted in one scene. Various young ladies, including Megan, wear outfits that show more skin than they should, such as a midriff-baring swimsuit or a short, off-the-shoulder top. Some parents may have qualms with the fact that MTV gets an endorsement at the film's end. Score: 2.5/5 |
Rated: "Intended to be viewed by children ages 5 and up" (manufacturer's advisory)
Starring: Lisa Ann Beley, Doron Bell Jr., and Don S. Davis
Released: September 27, 2003 (VHS/DVD)
| G.I. Joe: Spy Troops: The Movie: This is the shortest movie I've seen in a while; I think the last time I watched a film that was less than an hour long was when I saw Wallace and Gromit as a kid. Length aside, this toy-inspired, computer-animated flick featured plenty of great action sequences and some rather suprisingly slick visuals. Though intended for young children, older folks who are still "kids at heart" might find this to be an enjoyable diversion; still, a running time of only forty-four minutes makes this only worth a purchase if you're a collector. Everyone else should just check it out from your local library. Content Concerns: Though "intended [for] children ages 5 and up," I would stick a "TV-Y7-FV" rating on this, because the fantasy violence might be a bit much for even five-and-six-year-olds. Right from the get go, there are missile blasts, gun fights, sword fights, hand-to-hand melees, explosions, and pretty much every other kind of non-graphic violence. There's no profanity or sexual content, but some may feel that this movie's intensity is a bit much for the kiddies. Score: 3.5/5 |
 Rated: Not Rated (Dove approved for all ages) Starring: John Risner, Jacob Cherney, and Misty Steele Released: August 18, 2011 (DVD) | Redemption Ride: I usually like Christian movies, but I found this one hard to get through. For a movie about a champion bicycle racer, it seemed quite pokey, more like a chess match. Though the story was decent--nothing special, but passable--the poor acting, dull pacing, and poor soundtrack pretty much ruined this for me. Unless you're a bike racing fanatic, I would suggest staying away from this, and watching October Baby, Time Changer, or one of the Kendricks' movies instead. It had promise, but it simply fell flat. Content Concerns: It is mentioned that the protagonist used steroid-like drugs. The main character spends quite a bit time in bicycle shorts. Some emotional scenes might be too much for young kids. Score: 1.75/5 |
 Rated: PG-13 for some violent content and mature thematic elements Starring: Lynn Collins, Michael Ealy, and Bruce McGill Released: September 21, 2012 (theaters) / March 5, 2013 (DVD) | Unconditional: Ever since Mel Gibson's celluloid interpretation of the crucifixion of the Savior of the world, cineplexes and video stores/libraries have been flooded with Christian-themed movies. Some are amazing: Time Changer and Fireproof are good examples. Others of them are garbage, such as the horrible C Me Dance. Unconditional happens to be in the middle. Though the story kept me interested and the production values were mostly great, Lynn Collins was an ineffective--though attractive--leading lady. Much like a made-for-cable TV movie, this is only worth watching once. If your on demand or streaming service doesn't have this, you should check your local library. I can't recommend purchasing this, though. Content Concerns: Like To Save a Life, this is a Christian drama that is not for young children. Violence abounds: a guy gets shot, two guys get into a brawl that leaves one man's face bloodied, a guy gets a nasty cut on his hand from another man taking a knife to him, a boy gets bit by a snake, etc. Though not exactly violent, a character's medical issues lead to him losing some blood, which could be rather freaky for kids as well. The emotional intensity would also be a bit much, too. This is one case where the "PG-13" rating is appropriate. Score: 3.5/5 |
Quickie Book Reviews for June 2013
 | Demi Lovato: All Access (Totally Unauthorized!) by Riley Brooks: This book may be a biography, and, therefore, non-fiction, but non-fiction can still be entertainment, especially when it's about a celebrity of any sort. This "totally unauthorized" book was published in 2009, before Ms. Lovato had her psychological issues. Since things have changed for her big time in the past four years, this biography is a bit outdated. The stats--her birthdate and birthplace, for example--and stories about her past are still true, but people who are looking for up-to-date information will feel like their DVD player was unplugged when there was still a half-hour of the movie left. Content Concerns: The photo section shows Demi and other young ladies wearing short skirts or off-the-shoulder tops. Right at the end, Demi's most embarrassing moment, which involves accidental exposure of her private parts, is mentioned. Score: 2.75/5 |
| The Kingdom (Fargo Adventures, No. 1) by Clive Cussler with Grant Blackwood: Clive Cussler is well-known for his action/adventure writings, and it's books like this one that prove why. Fun, engaging, exciting, and everything one could want from such a novel. If you haven't read anything by Mr. Cussler...what are you waiting for? Content Concerns: Some violence, but nothing terribly graphic. The h-word and d-word are used about three or four times each. Score: 4.25/5 |
 | The Search (Left Behind: The Kids, No. 9) by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye with Chris Fabry: The Young Tribulation Force's ninth outing involves one kid being captured, and the other kids putting it all on the line to save him, all while World War III has broke loose. Exciting, intense, and gripping, this is what "end times" fiction should be. Content Concerns: As mentioned above, kidnapping plays a big part in this book. There is also some violence, as well as one or two depictions of smoking. The intensity might be a bit much for young kids. Score: 4.5/5 |
 | On the Run (Left Behind: The Kids, No. 10) by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye with Chris Fabry: The young adult end times serial continues; in this episode, one of the kids gets imprisoned. By now, there isn't much left to say about the series, so I'll just say this: If you've enjoyed the series up to this point, you'll probably enjoy this tenth volume, too. Content Concerns: A bit intense, but that goes with the subject material. Score: 4.5/5 |
 | Into the Storm (Left Behind: The Kids, No. 11) by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye with Chris Fabry: Those who have been reading the series up to this point--or following my reviews of it--should know what to expect by now. So, I'll just say that this eleventh volume is pretty much more of what the previous books gave us. As a fan of the series, I say that's a good thing; you may feel differently based on your experiences with these books. Content Concerns: Intensity, action, end-times theology…again, more of the same. Score: 4.25/5 |
 | Earthquake! (Left Behind: The Kids, No. 12) by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye with Chris Fabry: As the title suggests, the ground is literally shaking throughout this twelfth entry in the series. As such, it is probably the most intense and involving volume so far. If you've read the series up to this point, you must continue with this one. Content Concerns: Disaster violence and peril, which also involves characters getting injured and possibly killed. Like I said above, it's the most intense one yet. Score: 4.75/5 |
 | Taliesin (The Pendragon Cycle, No. 1) by Stephen R. Lawhead: Though epic in its scope, I found this trilogy-starting novel a bit hard to follow. I think I understood the basic plot, but some of the details were confusing. What should have been an amazing historical epic ended up being merely mediocre. Content Concerns: This isn't really for kids, anyway, but, there was some violence and consumption of alcohol. Score: 2.5/5 |
 | No Guys Pact (Holly's Heart, No. 9) by Beverly Lewis: After a bit of a hiatus from the Holly's Heart series, I am now back into it! This one feels like a cross between VeggieTales and Lizzie McGuire, and makes for enjoyable reading. Of course, if you didn't enjoy the first novel or two in the series, you wouldn't even care about this one...right? Content Concerns: Some Nickelodeon-sitcom-esque pratfalls. A prank involves the girls' underwear being put on display, but that is vilified. Score: 4/5 |
 | Little White Lies (Holly's Heart, No. 10) by Beverly Lewis: When Holly-Heart and her BFF Andie Martinez take a two-week jaunt to SoCal, everything seems great…until Andie falls in love with Rico, a nineteen-year-old guy! Holly knows Rico is bad news, but Andie doesn't seem to realize that. Will she see the truth in time? Not the best of the Holly's Heart books, but still pretty good. Content Concerns: A problematic relationship is described, but vilified. There is some emotional intensity towards the end. Score: 3.75/5 |
 | Freshman Frenzy (Holly's Heart, No. 11) by Beverly Lewis: When Holly and Andie's junior high school becomes overcrowded, they get bumped up to high school! Andie decides to run for class president…but her choice causes a rift between her and Holly! This is back to normal for the series; this far into it, that's about all I can say. Content Concerns: Nothing of note. It's as clean as the average episode of Lizzie McGuire. Score: 4.25/5 |
 | Mystery Letters (Holly's Heart, No. 12) by Beverly Lewis: When Holly-Heart starts writing a column in her school's paper, she starts getting letters from a secret admirer? Who could he be? Yet another enthralling story in this series. Content Concerns: None at all; this one is completely innocent. Score: 4.25/5 |
 | Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno: An old friend once criticized Attack of the Clones by saying, "No matter how cute they make Anakin, everybody knows he's going to become Darth Vader." Dark Lord wasn't exactly cute, but its lackluster feel due to everyone already knowing what will happen to that infamous black-clad cyborg. I seriously struggled to finish it. Content Concerns: I had trouble following this one, but, as usual for science fiction/fantasy works, violence seemed to be the main concern. Score: 1.25 |
 | Miss Match (Lauren Holbrook, No. 1) by Erynn Mangum: This Christian "young adult" novel tells of a twenty-something lifelong single who watches as her friends and family find romance, yet she gets none of it herself. As someone who has always been sans significant other, I can identify with Lauren's feelings and frustrations. This series is off to a cracking good start. Content Concerns: Nothing worse than a quip or two and usage of words like "gosh" only once or twice. Score: 4.5/5 |
 | The Haunting (Forbidden Doors, No. 4) by Bill Myers: I started this series early this year, but it took me months to get my hands on more volumes of Forbidden Doors. As with the first three books, this one deals with spiritual warfare, which is a rather creepy subject. It also discusses what truly being a Christian is, and why it is wrong to plot revenge. Anyone who has enjoyed these books up to this point will find plenty to love about this fourth entry in the series. Content Concerns: The subject matter--demons--is inherently creepy, which makes this inappropriate for the very young. Even some teens may be freaked out; consider whether or not you could read something like this before you actually do. Score: 4.5/5 |
 | The Guardian (Forbidden Doors, No. 5) by Bill Myers: Mr. Myers' spiritual warfare serial continues right where the prequel--see above--left off. Though well-written, it is, as usual for this series, a bit freaky. The cliffhanger ending left me panting for the sixth book; thankfully, I already have a copy of it. Content Concerns: Pretty much the same as what I described in the above review. Score: 4.5/5 |
 | The Encounter (Forbidden Doors, No. 6) by Bill Myers: Things continue to get crazy for Becka Williams, her family, and her friends. The intensity and supernatural drama that have been prevalent throughout this series so far go even further. Scary stuff, but gripping nonetheless. Content Concerns: Spiritual warfare is the topic, and it is depicted in rather lurid detail; if that would creep you or your kid out, you/he/she probably shouldn't read this. Score: 4.5/5 |
 | In the Shadow of the Sun King by Golden Keyes Parsons: Usually, when people say, "Don't judge a book by its cover," they're not really talking about literature; in fact, I've found that the front and back covers of most media--books, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, etc.--are usually a fair judge as to whether something is worth buying or borrowing. The cover image of this book is badly photographed--look at the weird expression on that lady's face!--and that's indicative of the internal contents. Bad writing, uninteresting plot...it has to be one of the worst books I've read in a while. I struggled to get as far as a did, and I was about sixty percent through it before I quit. If my copy hadn't been water damaged, it would be taken to the used bookstore ASAP. Content Concerns: Oh, who cares? If you read my review, you won't want to read it anyway. Score: 1.25/5 |
 | Damascus Countdown (The Twelfth Imam, No. 3) by Joel C. Rosenberg: By now, most readers should know what to expect from Mr. Rosenberg: action and espionage seemingly ripped from tomorrow's headlines that is based on Biblical prophecy. For fans of his works--such as myself--this is great news. The writing, action, and everything else are just as great as we've come to expect from this "modern Nostradamus". Where will the series go from here? The ending--which I won't give away!--adds a whole new wrinkle to the story. Content Concerns: Plenty of violence, some of it bloody. Definitely not for young children, as it would scare and confuse them. Score: 4.5/5 |
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