Kingdom Keepers: Disney at Dusk by Ridley Pearson

This is the first of four books that Pearson wrote about Disney World in Florida. While these books are for 4th or 5th graders, they're like Dr. Suess books. You can't put them down. Five kids fall asleep peacefully in their beds, waking up in Disney World. Surprise, Malificent, the evil witch from Sleeping Beauty, is alive. And her intentions are not good. Rides start coming to life. Remember the "It's a Small World" ride? After you read what happens on that ride, you will never want to get on it again. And you thought ventriloquist dummies were scary. OK, that might be an exaggeration, but you get the point. This book pays so much attention to detail it's crazy. But that's what makes you love the book so much. STORM THE LIBRARIES!!! DEMAND A COPY FOR EVERY BOY AND GIRL!!!! READ IT!!!!!!!

OK, sorry.

Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott

Well, nobody guessed, so the answer is right above this post. Like most of Louisa's novels, it takes place in a cute little town in Massachusetts, presumably. (The author herself lived there.) A young boys runs away from the circus (as apposed to running away to it) and hides in a old stagecoach with his faithful poodle Sancho. Two girls find him and are determined to make him civilized, and all become great friends. There is a bit of a conflict, but no major action. The end is indeed satisfying and Louisa always comes through with a cute sense of humor, not one that necessarily makes you roll on the floor laughing, but it's cute.

Up Next....

Here's a glance at what's next, see if you can try to figure out the title by solving this puzzle:

UNDR LLCS, by LMA.

This is a licence plate version of the title, the last three letters being the authors initials.

Bon chance!

David Copperfield

This book is a classic in the world of literature, but some shake at the thought of trying to read it. Imagine reading David Copperfield and not knowing what and epergne is (hint: It's a fruit bowl). Any way, I finally read it and I really did like it, the story was interesting and there is always a satisfying ending. If you have courage and know a little bit of Dickensian, then by all means, read it!

Note: Do not attempt to read the entire book in one night. Not only will you not get sleep, you will suffocate under your bedsheet.

The Assassins of Rome

Well, I read the book, and it turns out that I had picked the last one of the series out of four (don't you hate when that happens?). Just walking through the library, looking for something good to read and you pick THE LAST ONE IN THE SERIES!! Thankfully each of the books can stand pretty well on its own. It's about four children in the city of Ostia (a city near Rome), a Jewish boy named Jonathan, a Roman sea captain's daughter named Flavia Gemina, am ex-slave girl named Nubia, and a mute boy named Lupus. There's a couple shocking revelations (or should I say, misconceptions) and it's a quick read if you want to get to sleep early and not suffocate underneath the bedsheets. Overall, it has the Flashlight Seal of Approval.

Up Next....

Apologies for the delay in the posts, the next book is Assassins of Rome by Caroline Lawrence. It looked like a quick read and I've always been attracted to Roman detective novels. They just seem so interesting, and if there's some crazy riddle in Latin that they don't translate until the end, and you've taken six years of Latin like I have, you have the upper hand!

Dragons in Our Midst: Tears of a Dragon

Well, here's the final installment of the series, and though the ending is somewhat satisfying, it's just a tad weird. Something about a dragon messiah, and finding purity in your inner self (which isn't true, considering all of mankind are sinners through and through). It is a good book, but please, keep a Bible at hand. And though the reviews say so, I'm not sure Bryan Davis is the same caliber as C.S Lewis or Tolkien. But if you're dying to know what happens at the end, you won't be disappointed.

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place

Forgive me, readers, for swaying from the series of Dragons in Our Midst, but this book looked so appealing, with the illustrations and it's humor that a post must be written. Miss Penelope Lumley, fresh out of the Academy for Bright Girls With No Money, gets a post to be a governess for three children. But these children are not what they seem. Following the adventures of Penelope and her three charges, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia, the words seem to giggle with puns and references to today's culture. If the reader is under the covers, yes, you will be able to stay awake for this one.

The Dragons in Our Midst Series: Circles of Seven

The third installment of the Dragons in Our Midst series is here! Our two lovable halfbreeds are at it again, this time going into the bowels of the earth in an attempt to free lost prisoners and fulfill a prophecy, and in doing so, fire, brimstone, and goodness-knows-what-else breaks loose. Unlike many other series of books, which decline after the first one (or am I thinking of movies?) Circles of Seven adds more to the action, although the list of prophecies keeps going on and on and on.... Can we stick with one and fulfill it gradually over a course of four books?

The Dragons in Our Midst Series: Candlestone

The second book in this series, Candlestone, brings another surprise. The dragon slayer is back, and he's not a cheery fellow. The two teens fight (and run) for their lives as they try to keep their enemies off their tails (pardon the pun), at the same time still managing to keep faith. Running into a secret laboratory, they find some secrets that throws our little dragon friends into the Candlestone in desperation. Like the first book, this has plenty of violence and action to keep you awake in your bed, and has a nice dose of touching moments, so the girls will not push this book away, saying it's all "blood and guts". If the reader is under the covers at the time, the Flashlight suggests that you do not, by any means, read the entire book in one night, as it my affect your performance in school the next day. And never, NEVER, stay under your covers for too long. It gets stuffy under there.

The Dragons in Our Midst Series: Raising Dragons

Two teenagers, living normal lives, unbeknown to them is that they are in fact, half dragon. More bad news: Someone is trying to kill them. The first book has a delightful sense of humor, but it also keeps you on the edge of your seat. There is actually quite a bit of violence in this book, but it isn't described in so much detail that those with a more sensitive nature won't completely faint in their bed as they read it under the covers. This book includes a prophecy, which I won't give the book away, but the two, let us say, are destined for each other, so Raising Dragons also appeals to girls in a sense. Bryan Davis, the author, wrote three more books in this series, so the fun, fire breathing, flying, fighting, and frantic moments don't stop here!!

The Beginning

The mother closes the door, after she tucks her children into bed. As she walks downstairs, all is silent. But then, a ruffle of the blankets is heard. A strange luminescent glow radiates from under the covers of the bed. A teenage girl has seized the midnight hours to satisfy her thirst for reading. This is the story of the many books that will be read, under the covers, beneath the moonlit window.