"Outward Appearances" by Vicki Watson

About this book:

  “When the first boarders arrive, Rosie realizes working at the family stable will be more difficult than she anticipated. The extra horses aren’t the problem however; it’s one of the boarders that Rosie can’t get along with. When Grandma explains 1 Samuel 16:7 to the girls, Rosie struggles to see how the verse applies. It takes an annoying boarder, a blind horse, and an extreme race to teach Rosie that while man looks at outward appearances, God looks at the heart.”


Series: Book #5 in the “Sonrise Stable” series. (Book #1’s review Here! Book #2’s review Here! Book #3’s review Here! Book #4’s review Here!)

Spiritual Content- 1 Samuel 16:7 at the beginning (and quoted & discussed later); Scriptures are quoted, mentioned & discussed; Prayers; Talks about God & judging; Many talks & discussions about those in the Bible; ‘H’ are capital when referring to God; Mentions of sermons, preachers & church;

*Note: A mention of the horse evaluation lesson featured in Book #3 in this series.

           

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dad-burned’, and five ‘idiot’s; Many talks about & mentions of tattoos & piercings; Katrina is rude to a young African-American girl because the girl claimed that her grandfather was a jockey; A couple mentions of the Civil War & slavery; Mentions of when Sparrow the cat was shot (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of vet recommending to euthanize a horse because the horse is blind (the owner did not follow that suggestion); A mention of tobacco juice; A mention of cheating; 

Sexual Content- Billy has a bit of a crush on Hannah; A mention of a girl whose mother left.

-Rosie, 10/11

                               P.O.V. of Rosie
                                       129 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Just like the previous books in this series, “Outward Appearances” was a good book with great lessons. While reading this, I learned that some horses like peppermints! Huh, I never knew that! :)

See y’all on Monday with another new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Author for this review.

"Mandie and The Charleston Phantom" by Lois Gladys Leppard

 About this book:

  “Having returned home to Franklin, North Carolina, after helping solve the mystery in Mandie and the Medicine Man, she begins her new adventure with a visit to Charleston. A trip to a friend's ocean-front beach house introduces her to what seems to be a "phantom" rising into the air and then falling into the water. Even though caught up in the excitement of discovering another mystery, Mandie learns some important lessons about friendship and jealousy.”


Series: Book #7 in “Mandie” series. (Read the reviews of: #1 Here! #2 Here! #3 Here! #4 Here! #5 Here! And #6 Here!) {There also is the “Young Mandie Mystery” series, (Book #1 review Here and Book #2 review Here!) but they do not connect together well}

Spiritual Content- Ephesians 4:26 at the beginning; Talks about God, Scriptures & forgiving; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Prayers; A couple Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, and prayed; a Mention of what the Bible talks about; Uncle Ned refers to Heaven as “happy hunting ground”;

*Note: Many mentions of phantoms, ghosts & haunted houses.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘stupid’, and two ‘shut up’s (one is teasing); A bit of sarcasm; Josephine does not like Mandie; A family rumor that someone was murdered or she committed suicide (the truth is not known, not-detailed); A story of a man who killed his wife (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of past & present slaves & skin colors (nothing offensive).

Sexual Content- Jealousy between Joe & Mandie; Tommy calls Mandie beautiful & she blushes; Many Mentions of Joe & Mandie marrying when they’re older.

-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 12
                                             P.O.V. of (mostly) Mandie

                                         Set in 1900
                              136 pages (also available in a collection with four other Mandie books.)

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

{Ratings are lowered as ages get higher due to the simple plot.}

Another fun Mandie mystery. :)

  *See my thought on this series versus the younger series, Here!

See y’all on Monday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"Sarah's New World" by Colleen L. Reece {Pre-Teen Week!}

{Welcome to Pre-Teen Week! Every quarter we’re going to try to do a full week dedicated to finding great Christian books for girls ages 8/9-12 every week day! This is the last day of this quarters’!} {Day 1 Here!} {Day 2 Here!} {Day 3 Here!} {Day 4 Here!}

About this book:

  “Time Period: 1620 Oct.-Nov.  Imagine leaving the land you know and the friends you hold dear-and you'll begin to understand the whirlwind of emotion that awaits ten-year-old Sarah Smythe. This fictional Pilgrim aboard the Mayflower is moving from Holland to the New World-America-in the vanguard of a new nation of free people. Especially for girls ages eight to twelve, this fascinating story shares the hopes and fears of a girl distant in time but close in spirit, while at the same time teaching important lessons of Christian faith and American history. “Sarah's New World” is perfect for recreational reading or homeschooling.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Sisters in Time” series. Click on the numbers to be taken to that review: #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19,   #20, #21, #22, #23, and #24.

Spiritual Content- Strong Faiths; Many Scriptures are quoted or mentioned; Talks about God & worshiping; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many Prayers & mentions of Prayers; Mentions of those in the Bible & discussing them; Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of church & strict churches; Many Mentions of worshiping & not being able to worship.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: three ‘stupid’s; A mention of a string of words that “might be curses.”; A mention of boxed ears; A mention of hanging; Mentions of hunting; Mentions of scalping & Indians; Mentions of killing Indians; Mentions of pirates; Mentions of seasickness & throwing up; Mentions of illnesses & death; Mentions of drownings & beatings (barely-above-not-detailed).

Sexual Content- A couple mentions of a young couple staring & blushing at each other.

-Sarah Smythe, age 10

-John Smythe, age 12
                                             P.O.V. switches between them

                                         Set in 1620
                         138 pages (also available in a collection with three other Sisters in Time books.)

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Good historical book with string faiths! The only thing that bothered me was that the name is “Sarah’s New World”, but it seemed more like John’s New World, due to having his POV much more than his sister’s POV.

That that wraps up Pre-Teen Week! I hope you all enjoyed it and I’ll see y’all on Monday!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.