Shoes Books

I would say this is a book that belongs in an elementary school library or the kids section of a public library. But for what it is, it is great, and I enjoyed it nonetheless.

When Molly is the only girl in dance class who doesn't have silver shoes, she desires her own pair of sparkly shoes to dance in. Her mother says she has to wait and see if she likes the class first and then they will think about buying new shoes.

When her best friend finds a pair of silver shoes, Molly is a bit jealous.

"Can I wear your silver shoes, Gran?" Molly always asked. Clickety-clakety went the heels as Molly danced. She felt just like a grown-up lady.

Molly finds a pair of shoes just like her grandmother has and wears them from morning to night. When she asks her father for a pair of her own shoes, he tells her:

"Special things you want very much often come at special times."

This almost made me cry, since my own father secretly bought me a bike one time and hid it for me until my birthday. I had NO idea, except I did wonder what the special tape was for. He decorated the bike for me to make it extra special. The only thing I missed was him walking me to school.

Molly is equally excited when she gets her gift of silver shoes and then she feels like a real dancer. A cute story with a happy ending.

I doubt there is a little girl who won't relate to the story. The expressions on the children's faces are so real!

~The Rebecca Review

An excellent book on the life of a First Nations chief at the turn of the century. This book was very intersting to read as a Kwakiutl person. (The term used today is Kwakwakawakw) It allowed myself to learn about the daily life of a typical Kwakiutl Chief during the late 1800's and early 1900's when the first "white" settlers arrived and established a fort. The book does have some faults or drawbacks, as the editor/author writes how the Kwakiutl man spoke English, which is not his first language. At some points the diction can be hard to understand. Other than this minor flaw, the book acurately portrays a young man's life and how he must adapt to the changing world around him. Another book on the same subject, but during a later time period (1920s-1960s), to read is "Guests Never Leave Hungry : The Autobiography of James Sewid, a Kwakiutl Indian" Both books are a must read for anyone interested in Aboriginal life as it changed with the coming of "white" settlers.

If you enjoy drama as much as I do you will enjoy these biographies and plays about famous African-Americans. I liked it because it includes doctors, artists, inventors, educators, athletes and civil rights activists. Kids and adults can read about them and act out a drama or reader's theatre production of the life of the individual. Social Studies skits are hard to come by and this one is easy enough for all ages of readers and beginning readers.

Years and years since the original writing of "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites", author Chris Heimerdinger decides, smartly, to write a sequel. All our beloved characters are now in college. They have no memory of the events of the first book (and in some ways it might have been best to leave the first book as itself due to that ending) but new events, such as Lamanites appearing in the modern world, brings everyone back to an adventure through Mexico.

It has all the makings of a college road trip (with a clean LDS twist, of course) but it eventually turns into a veritable Lord of the Rings event as they attempt to destroy an evil sword in a volcano.

It's a fun, zesty read full of lots of spirit, thought, and humor.

I'm sorry to say that all the excitement and passion of the prior two novels ("The Sacred Quest" and "The Lost Scrolls") do not remain in this last one. Admittedly it's still one of the best books in LDS fiction, but I'm afraid that Heimerdinger manages to get a little hokey in his story telling, so much that it almost boarders on disturbing.

This said, this is still the conclusion to one of the best plots in the Tennis Shoes series, and that makes it worth something.

Apparently Chris Heimerdinger cannot stop writing these things. That's all right, because there is something altogether exciting and spiritual about this excursion to the Holy Lands back in the day. I love the even more advanced assortment of characters whom Heimerdinger gives more than plenty of personalities. The writing is snappy and the plot is quick and the homework has been done.

Another lighthearted whimsical shopping trip to cyber-magical Hiheelia.com (see THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR STOMPING) requires readers to suspend belief; but it is worth doing for these three enchanting tales.

"A Rose by Any Other Name" by Lisa Cach. Eccentric Kelsey seeks someone screwier than her, but her new shoes leads her to conclude she don't know Jack about what she wants.

"So I Dated an Axe Murderer" by Gemma Halliday. Kya wants to become a supermodel until her new shoes lead her into the down side.

"And They Danced" by Melanie Jackson. With new shoes and a new hunk next door, Faith asks him to enter a dance contest as her partner

Harriet Klausner

really enjoyed this unique short story. engaging and off the wall voice. short read, but rewarding.

My daughter enjoyed this piece of local history. We do not live far from Jockey Hollow National Park in Morristown, where the Wick house still stands. The Wick home has been preserved beautifully (even tour guides dressed in period clothes are there) and the stables where Tempe housed her horse are still in great shape. I've taken my daughter here for walks many times (as my father took me when I was young) and when I saw this book I knew my little 9 yrs. old reader would enjoy it. It seems to have a nice flow to it and also seems to follow the real history of Tempe Wick. A 12 yr. old girl standing up to the Army during a time of war is a hollywood story and a good piece of American History.