Daring Book for Girls Wrap Up

I failed miserably at this challenge. It ended June 15 and I had only completed 4 of 9 books. I am going to go back though and make it a perpetual challenge for me as I really want to read the books listed in Daring Book for Girls. I was also able to pick up a copy of Daring Book for Girls for just a buck!

1. From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - E.L. Konigsburg
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- J.K. Rowling
4. Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry

Daring Book For Girls Challenge

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (Book Review)

Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Random House Listening Library
Narrated by: Jim Dale
Genre: YA/Fantasy
I listened to this book for fun!

First sentence: It was nearing midnight and the Prime Minister was sitting alone in his office, reading a long memo that was slipping through his brain without leaving the slightest trace of meaning behind.

Year six finds Harry, Ron and Hermione headed back to Hogwarts after passing their O.W.L.s. There is also a new Prime Minister of Magic after Fudge was fired over his handling of Voldemort's return. Ron and Harry are disappointed as they had not scored high enough on their Potions test to continue on in this class - but this is soon rectified by Dumbledore. Since they hadn't purchased Potions books, they must use some old ones from the classroom until theirs arrive. Harry is lucky and gets one filled with detailed notes and spells. Notes left by the Half-Blood Prince. But who is the Half-Blood Prince?

Dumbledore believes Harry (since he is the Chosen One) is ready to start learning more about his enemy Voldemort. Through a series of memories viewed through the pensieve, Harry sees Voldemort as Tom Riddle and watches his transformation into the Dark Lord. He is also able to discover what a horcrux is and how Voldemort has used them to gain his advantage.


Along the way we have Harry's adventures in Quidditch, learning to apparate and see him developing feelings for Jenny, Ron's sister.

I continue to enjoy this series, having read the first four and now listened to 5 and 6. I was happy to have finished this one before the movie comes out! I have decided though, that I enjoy listening to them more than reading them - probably because I can clearly see the characters (because of the movies) and very much enjoy listening to Jim Dale read them. If you have not read the Harry Potter series, I think you definitely should - regardless of your age. I guess I can admit now that I tried to read the first one when it came out and couldn't get past the first chapter. All the muggles and mudbloods and Quidditch! I am not sure what has changed.

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

I loved this book. I hope that my daughter chooses to read it soon. Characters were easy to follow and it was a quick read. Set in the future, it is the story of an orphaned girl that soon discovers she has a talent in sewing that is much needed by the village she lives in. I am a needlepointer/cross-stitcher myself, so the way the book spoke of her ability in this area was able to paint a very realistic picture for me. The big message that I got from it was that no matter how young you are, you do have the ability to change your future.

From the cover: Left orphaned and physically flawed in a civilization that shuns and discards the weak, Kira faces a frighteningly uncertain future. Her neighbors are hostile and no one but a small boy offers to help.

When she is summoned to judgement by The Council of Guardians, Kira prepares to fight for her life. But the Council, to hersurprise, has plans for her. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, the young girl faces new responsibilities and a set of mysteries deep within the only world she has ever known. On her quest for truth, Kira discovers things that will change her life and world forever. 5/5 stars!

Other reviews:
Things Mean Alot

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

This is the 5th book in the Harry Potter series, and for me it has been the best (but longest to get through) so far. Harry starts his fifth year at Hogwarts after being attacked by dementors near his home, and finding out about a new Order of which his Godfather, Sirius, is a member. I started out reading this book, and changed to listening to it when I needed something for a long car trip. I even sucked my husband into the story. Somewhere about 2/3 of the way into the book, I caught the last half of the movie on cable - Wow - talk about not following the book at all! I believe that the book is MUCH better than the movie. The book was able to tie together the first 5 years at Hogwarts and sort of give us a direction in which to expect the last 2 books to take. The movie left me feeling very vague as to anything that had been happening. I definitely recommend this book and cannot wait to start the next one! 5/5

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

I read this book originally for the Daring Book for Girls challenge, but have since added it to the Book Awards Challenge. It won the Newberry Award in 1968. I remember reading this book as a young girl and it quickly became one of my favorites. I even tried to get my own daughter to read it a few years ago, but no luck. She is not the reader that I was...(too much technology these days, I think).

This story is about a sister and brother who run away due to the "injustice of everything.." They stay at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York City. During their adventure they discover that many things are still important no matter where you are living (like enjoying clean underwear! - and having enough to eat). Claudia, the sister, does not want to return home until she has changed in some way. So they set off on an adventure to discover the true sculptor of a statue called The Angel.

I think this is a very good read for elementary age kids. Although quickly becoming outdated because of all high security available today - nice to imagine that if children did this, that they would be "safe". 4/5

Daring Book for Girls Challenge

Ok - had to sign up for one more - Don't know which tract I will be doing - depends on how much time I get to read here in the beginning! I also want to go through the books that I own and see which ones of these that I have.

Will probably do #2 - 9 books from the list in 12 months and the ongoing challenge of reading them all.

Choices for #2 -
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle
From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - E.L. Konigsburg
Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
Caddie Woodlawn - Carol Ryrie Brink

Ok - we will see how this goes!