Sorcerers and Seers

Chris Heimerdinger has finally come out with the next book in the amazing series Tennis Shoes Adventure Series.  We see our family of Hawkins split in three factions.  Garth, Marcos, and Josh are found in the time of Cumorah and then also in the time of the Jaredites.  While Jim, Jenny and some other family members are at the last week of Christ's life.  The rest of the band are with Moroni as they travel to the settlement at Cumorah.   It is a great adventure filled with  battles, adventure, love, family and mostly trust in God and his plan.
Chris ends each chapter with a summary of the research he has conducted to get as close to what might have happened during these time periods as possible.
If you have never read this Tennis Shoes adventure series I highly recommend it.   Just like his other books be prepared to be left hanging at the end wanting to now what happens next. (Hopefully this time it will be much sooner before the next one comes out)

A Tale of Two Cities

I have now learned why I have never read Charles Dickens  (other than A Christmas Carol)  while he is a great classic writer his book a tale of two cities takes forever to get started and for the average mind is hard to follow.  The language is very beautiful but the story wasn't as good as I had thought it would be.  I am glad I read it just to have read Dickens work but it will be a while before I tackle Great Expectations.   For those looking for a good classic with great descriptive detail than this is your book if you need a intriguing story that i might suggest Alexander Dumas or some other great author!

Sydney White

Sydney White is a fun take on Snow White where instead of seven Dwarfs you have seven nerds and instead of a wicked queen you have a wicked student body president who watches her daily ranking on the "Hot or Not" list in order to see who's the fairest in the land.  The difference here is that Sydney White actually confronts the queen and in an Amanda Bynes way you see her help these nerds and the rest of campus overthrow the rule of the evil Witchburn!

I am a fan of Amanda's fun personality and weird quirks and if you are too this is a great one!  Plus learn that we are all geeks.

Toy Story 3

Should I be ashamed that I got teary eyed during a cartoon?  Admittedly I do cry in movies a lot (to Kill a Mockingbird and Remember the Titans to name a few. I guess I also cry from laughing so much in it's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World.)  So no I am not ashamed that over the course of the past ten years and three movies I have fallen in love with Andy's toys.  i really don't want to give away much of the plot of this great movie but Woody, buzz and the gang face some of there biggest challenges yet as Andy prepares to leave for college.  They are donated to a day care center where an evil toy plots and controls all that goes on within the center. Andy's toys are forced to work together with several of Woody's famous plans, in order to escape and return to Andy before he leaves.   The movie has its hilarious moments as well watch for Spanish Buzz and Ken.  That is all I will say about that.  If you have ever had that thing whether toy, blanket, or a special place that reminds you of childhood see this movie.  

PS if you are at all emotional over such memories bring tissues as well.    

How to Train Your Dragon?

Mari and I went and saw How to Train your Dragon this past week and we loved it.  DreamWorks has created another great movie.  This one is a little bit different from their traditional staples of Shrek, Monsters VS. Aliens and Kung Foo Panda (to name a few).  This is not a straight up comedy.  The story seems a little predictable with the dominating father figure who is everything a viking should be: strong and stubborn.  He has a son, Hiccup, who is a puny guy who wrecks everything he tries, but just wants his father's love.  Sounds like 100 other movies, right?  Well this one adds vikings and dragons and makes it a great movie.  Hiccup and his best friend, Toothless, change the dragon/viking relationship forever.  So If you like feel-good movies, 3D movies, or DreamWorks in general, this is a must see.
Besides, it will be a better use of money and time than Iron Man 2!

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

Sean Covey has written a wonderful life changing book.  For those who have read his father version and felt it a little to deep or business oriented this is the answer to your issues with it.  Sean teaches us about the 7 habits but in a way more applicable to day to day life.  He also makes it fun and extremely interesting with tons of short stories from teens and adults of every walk of life.  He even includes cartoons and doable baby steps.
I fell in love with the 7 habits all over again and recommend this book to teens and adults alike.

If you don't read a single other book I recommend make this one the one.

The Great Hunt

Book 2 in the Wheel of Time series has continued only now we have our main characters out on the hunt for the legendary Horn of Valere which can call the great heroes of the past back to help fight the dark one.  Rand has to come to grips with who he really is and so must is friends.  They travel through their world and others to get to the Horn and to drive out a horrible group of invaders in the borderland.
Be ready for excitement and many other things that Jordan has created in a world that can't be explained but must be experienced as the wheel turns and weaves out the lives of those involved in this epic adventure.