Sunday, April 15, 2012

Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson


I love Jill Williamson's fantasy series. I am a big fan of fantasy and science-fiction. That said, although I did enjoy reading her sci-fi book, Replication: The Jason Experiment, I didn't find it as well thought out or presented as her Blood of Kings trilogy.

The idea of clones in an underground facility intrigued me. What a great concept! The question about clones being 'real people' (should they have rights?) also made me excited to read this book.

The main clone character, Martyr, had me pulling for him every step of the way. He had a great depth, and Jill wrote him well. On the other hand, the main girl character (I cannot recall her name--probably because I want to forget her as fast as I can), made me want to pull out my hair and run screaming from the book. She drove me nuts. Her 'pros' and 'cons' lists just about made me stop reading. I didn't like her at all. I didn't care if she got caught or punished, except that I didn't want Martyr to be hurt in the process. She was a judgmental snob and never changed.

The ending was also too Disney for me...as well as a tiny bit confusing.

I give the story itself a 4/5 star rating...the male character a 5/5 star rating, but because of the girl (whom I believe was supposed to be the over-all main character), I have to rate this a 3/5.



Product Details:
Cost: $15.99
Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (December 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310727588
ISBN-13: 978-0310727583

*A review copy was provided to me by Zondervan in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

NIV Boys Bible

What I Thought: 
Here's the counterpart to the faithgirlz! bible...one for boys! This was also very well done. I had my 11 year old look through it, and he loved the 'Grossology' parts the most. Since I received this bible free, as well as the girls one, I gave this to the brother of the girl that I gave the faithgirlz! one to. I see him carry it around on Wednesdays and Sundays. Looks like he adores it! Yay! So, here is a great Easter present for your little mister!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!



Today's Wild Card is:


Zonderkidz; Special edition (March 6, 2012)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson of The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Getting into a routine of reading the Bible can be challenging for anyone, but trying to keep the attention of pre-teen boys is especially difficult. So now there is a Bible especially developed for them. The NIV Boys Bible is designed with boys ages 9 to 12 in mind. Fun in-text features help boys dig deep into the Word and learn about amazing people, facts and stories of the Bible. The NIV Boys Bible will help boys grow into the young men God wants them to be. It will appeal to boys and cause them to desire to spend time in the Word with its unique features such as:

* Introductions to each book of the Bible

* Hundreds of highlighted verses worth memorizing

* What's the Big Deal?-Need-to-know biblical stories and people

* Check It Out-Interesting and fun facts about Bible times and characters

* Grossology-Gross and gory stuff they never knew was in the Bible

* Makin' It Real-Help for applying Bible stories to their everyday lives



This Bible includes the full text of the New International Version, the most popular Bible translation in the world, and 12 color tip-in pages introducing content that shows boys how they can grow to be like Jesus. Each book of the Bible has activities that make God's Word more relevant than ever. It is jam-packed with customized content and artwork that really makes the Bible stand out.


Product Details:
List Price: $27.99
Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Hardcover: 1504 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz; Special edition (March 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310723086
ISBN-13: 978-0310723080:


AND NOW...A SAMPLE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO VIEW THEM LARGER: 








Sunday, April 01, 2012

NIV Faithgirlz! Bible (Revised Edition)

My Thoughts:
 I looked through this bible and wished that I had one as a young girl. Such great features! I especially loved the Oh, I get it! sections. Really well thought out and timely. I was able to give a copy to a ten year old at our church's youth group. She immediately sat down and started reading! If you are looking for a great Easter gift for a young girl, here it is!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!



Today's Wild Card contributor is:


and the book:

Zonderkidz; Rev Spl edition (March 6, 2012)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson of The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR:


Nancy Rue has worked as a public school teacher, church youth director, theater workshop developer and camp director. She has written more than eighty books for young people, including the beloved Faithgirlz! Sophie series, The Skin You're In and Everybody Tells Me to Be Myself but I Don't Know Who I Am. Nancy lives with her husband and two dogs in Lebanon, TN.


About Faithgirlz!: Faithgirlz! is a collection of books, Bibles and resources designed to provide transformational Christian experiences for tween girls. Faithgirlz! encourages honest tween-girl empowerment by providing engaging, relevant, high-quality offerings, helping tween girls understand their world, learn biblical teachings, become closer to God and grow into godly teenagers. Faithgirlz! offers excellent content and contributions from leading Christian tween writers and spokespeople including Nancy Rue, Melody Carlson, Kristi Holl, Naomi Kinsman and more. Faithgirlz! is also supported with a website (www.Faithgirlz.com), Facebook page and mother and daughter live events across the country.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Every girl wants to know she’s totally unique and special, and contributor Nancy Rue helps them do just that in the revised edition of the NIV Faithgirlz! Bible. As a leading tween expert, Rue teaches girls that the Bible is real and relevant and, best of all, that the story of God and His people is also their story. Girls can now grow closer to God as they discover the journey of a lifetime, in their language, for their world.


The new Faithgirlz! Bible was developed especially for girls ages 9 to 12. Everything in it is written with a tween girl’s experience in mind, and it features the most popular Bible translation in the world, the New International Version. The features explain hard-to-understand things in the Bible and guide girls to put the Scripture to work in their own lives. The Faithgirlz! Bible focuses on sharing faith with friends and gives real ways for girls to do that.

Each book of the Bible has activities that make God’s Word more relevant than ever. And, of course, because it was developed for Faithgirlz! readers, they can expect to find it jam-packed with customized content and artwork that really makes the Bible stand out. Girls will love the cool design, the interactive features and the feeling of knowing that God’s Word is there for them whenever they need it. Some of the features included are:

·   Book Introductions—Girls will read the who, when, where and what of each book of the Bible.

·   Dream Girl—Girls will use their imaginations to put themselves in the story.

·   Is There a Little (Eve, Ruth, Isaiah) in You?—Girls will see for themselves what they have in common with women of the Bible.

·   Words to Live By—Girls will discover great Bible verses for memorizing.

·   Oh, I Get It!—Girls will find answers to Bible questions they’ve wondered about.


Nancy Rue says, “I hope the Faithgirlz! Bible will help girls grow a friendship with the Bible, their own relationship. It asks questions, asks them to think and challenges them to apply what they’re learning. That’s how they’ll find a deep, personal relationship with God, rather than just by following rules or saying what they’ve been told without really thinking about it. Rules are important, of course, but they only make sense when they really believe the message of the Scriptures. That’s what this Bible is about.” The Faithgirlz! Bible is the perfect Bible to support girls in their journey into the “beauty of believing.”

The main edition of the Faithgirlz! Bible is hardcover, but it is also available in two Italian Duo-Tone designs. For better portability, there is also an NIV Faithgirlz! Backpack Bible. This compact edition does not include the in-text features that the full-size edition has, but it does have twelve full-color pages of Faithgirlz! fun, the words of Christ in red and a ribbon marker. An ebook version is also planned for electronic use.

Product Details:
List Price: $27.99
Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Hardcover: 1504 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz; Rev Spl edition (March 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310722365
ISBN-13: 978-0310722366



AND NOW...A SAMPLE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO VIEW THEM LARGER: