Tuesday, July 26, 2011

McKenzie's Branson Brainteaser

McKenzie's Branson Brainteaser is written by Shari Barr.  McKenzie Phillips is a 13 year old girl growing up in Montana.  She lives with her dad, her mom, her 8 year old brother, and her horse Sahara.

In this book McKenzie and the rest of the Camp Club Girls are solving their first missing persons case.  The Camp Club Girls all live in different states but they help each other solve mysteries. The girls first met at Discovery Lake Camp where they all shared the same cabin. McKenzie is in Branson, MO working at the Dixie Showcase, and playing at Silver Dollar City.  Her friend Sydney lives in Washington, DC and is coming to visit her for a week. McKenzie and Sydney are staying with McKenzie's mother's friend, from college, who works at silver dollar city at the basket weaving shop.   

McKenzie needs to help Shara Hayden find her uncle and tell him that his family has forgiven him before Sydney has to go home.  Shara's uncle was tired of working in the family law business, and wanted to start a wood crafting business of his own .  His family got mad at him for wanting to leave the business, and the only person who understood  why he wanted to leave was his sister. He quit the family business and disappeared.  He moved to Branson, where he started his own wood crafting shop.  After he quit they never heard from him and did not know where he was.  Shara Hayden was four when she last saw her uncle and now she is a teenager.  She said her uncle has been gone for 14-15 years.

I could relate to McKenzie, because she has curly auburn hair and so do I.  I like this book because it is a Christian mystery book and I love mystery books. My favorite part was the ending.  I can not wait to read more books in the Camp Club Girls series.

Friday, July 8, 2011

In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace

 In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace is written by KD McCrite.  April Grace is an 11 year old girl growing up in Arkansas in the summer of 1986.  April Grace lives out in the country with her mom, her dad, and her older sister Myra Sue. 

April Grace's favorite thing to do is read.  She does not get along well with her older sister Myra Sue.  April Grace loves living in the country.  She likes to go to Cedar Ridge with her Grandma Grace.  They go every Tuesday, because it is always double coupon day at the grocery store, and they offer 1% off regular price for seniors.

April Grace's older sister Myra Sue acts like a snob.  Myra Sue does not like living in the country at all.  What she loves to do is sit and watch t.v. when she is supposed to be doing her chores.  When she is watching t.v. she makes April Grace do her chores for her.  April's best friend is Melissa who is at summer camp this summer so April Grace is bored out of her mind.  April Grace has hippies as neighbors who take a bath every month to two months at the most.  Everyone says that April Grace's mama is the prettiest lady you have ever seen.  April Grace's dad is very nice, but when you make him mad it is not a pretty sight.  April Grace is embarrassed, because her grandma has a new boyfriend.  What if they smooch in front of God and everybody?  April Grace has to put up with her snobby new neighbors ( Ian and Isabel Saint James ).

I like this book because it has just a hint of mystery in it.  I can relate to April Grace, because she is growing up in the country and so am I. April Grace and I are about the same age, and we both love to read.  I can not wait to read the second book in the series because this one was very good. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”