"Merry Christmas from Mandie" by Lois Gladys Leppard

About this book:

  “Mandie made lots of friends this year . . . so many that she doesn't know what to give them all for Christmas! She's stumped--until gifts begin to mysteriously appear on her doorstep, gifts that would be perfect for her friends. Where are the gifts coming from? Is there really an angel at work in Charley Gap?

   Includes a special holiday craft project perfect for young readers!”

Series: This is a Christmas Special book in “Young Mandie Mysteries” series. (Book #1’s review Here!, #2 Here!, #3 Here!, and #4 Here!) It was published between books #3 and #4, but can be read out of order. {This series is connected to the original Mandie series, Mandie is younger in this series but this series was written later. Also is a bit confusing for those who have read the Mandie series first. See my review of Book #1 for my thoughts on this.}

Spiritual Content- Set during Christmas; Mentions of decorating a church for Christmas, helping a pastor, a church Christmas service, & a sermon; A couple mentions of celebrating Jesus’ birthday & the three wisemen; A mention of reading Scripture together after supper (which Mandie is so focused on the mysterious gift, she doesn’t hear a word); A mention of a blessing.

 

 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: three ‘shucks’; A few mentions of a fire that caused the deaths of Mandie’s friend’s parents & her grandmother being badly burned; A mention of a possibly stolen item.

 

 

Sexual Content- Mandie gives Joe a quick kiss on his cheek in excitement; A mention of Mandie’s sister liking a boy.

 

-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 9

                                P.O.V. of Mandie

                                    Set in 1897 (?)

                                        119 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

{The ratings are lower as the girl gets older because of the simple plot-line, but is clean for all ages.}

Well, this was just adorable! Very Christmas-y and an innocent mystery.

 

 

See y’all on Friday 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.

 

"Silent Days, Holy Night" by Phyllis Clark Nichols

About this book:

  “The sounds of Christmases past echo through a silent house . . .  
  Everyone in town knows Emerald Crest, the green granite mansion atop the highest hill: the legendary, lavish Christmas festivities that used to light up the nights— and the silence that followed when the parties abruptly stopped many years ago. And everyone has heard whispers about the reclusive, mysterious master of the manor, Henry Lafferty the Second . . .
  When eleven-year-old Julia Russell steps into the great house for the first time and meets Mr. Lafferty, the entire course of her life is altered. She meets a man who is nothing at all like the rumors she’s heard from neighbors and classmates. He’s kind and extraordinarily talented—he also happens to be deaf and uses a wheelchair. And when she overhears a secret about him, Julia decides it’s time for the town to bring Christmas back to Emerald Crest—an act that will change them all forever.”


Series: As of now, no.


Spiritual Content- Set during Thanksgiving & Christmas time; Prayers; Church going; A Christmas Play; Talks about God; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, thanking, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, services, pastors, sermons, choirs, & hymns; A few mentions of Heaven; A few mentions of blessings & blessing others; A mention of a come-to-Jesus meeting;

             *Note: ‘for God’s sake’ is said; Mentions of rumors of a haunted place & the owner being a ghost or a troll and has bones everywhere.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: (a ‘brussels sprouts’ is said by Julia but when her mother asks if she said it like a swear word, Julia denies it), a ‘rats’, a ‘shoot’, a ‘shut up’, three forms of ‘dumb’s, and six ‘stupid’s; A bit of eye rolling & sibling/annoying-boy-at-school bickering; Julia does tell some fibs after sharing information she shouldn’t have shared or when wanting to keep a surprise a secret; Mentions of a car accident, death, & injuries; Mentions of vandalism & criminals/mean-spirited people; Mentions of missing people, injuries, & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of fibs & lying; Mentions of gossips & rumors; Mentions of hunting & dressing a bird (up to semi-detailed); A (teasing) few mentions of hanging people; A few mentions of an accident & injuries (nothing major); A few mentions of nightmares; A mention of a death from a work accident; A mention of a club not being gang or drug related; A mention of how exactly Julia would torture her brother if he did something stupid; A mention of an elephant’s misery after seeing a piano with ivory keys;

             *Note: A few mentions of Halloween; A couple mentions of car brands.

Sexual Content- Mentions of married couples kissing; Mentions of liking someone & crushes (at age 10); A couple mentions of a man in historical times having many wives; A mention of a husband being paid to leave his wife by her father; A mention of a flirt; A mention of a wink.

-Julia Russell, age 26 (Prologue) and age 10
                                P.O.V. of Julia (with one part in Henry’s)

                                  Set in 2002 (Prologue, one other part, & the Epilogue are set modern day)
                                                        224 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

While at first, I was a bit confused with who everyone was, once the story got going, I ended up really enjoying this book. I loved Julia with all her questions and seeing her heart want to help change different things. She was such a fun character and I enjoyed this sweet Christmas read.

See y’all on Wednesday 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.

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