I actually finished this one weeks ago. However, my full time construction job on top of motherhood leaves me very little computer time. But here is my review of the third book in this saga. (And I mean that in the sense that the series is becoming a little long winded with only a few dramatic events.)
Content
Now that she has won her knighthood and defeated the sorcerer who threatened the peace of the kingdom, Sir Alanna of Trebond seeks adventure in the deserts of Tortall. She defeats a band of robbers but breaks her sword irreparably. In a strange twist of fate she is adopted by the desert Bazhir tribe, the Bloody Hawk, and becomes their Shaman. And this is where the majority of the book takes place.
As Shaman, Alanna improves her own magic skills and trains apprentices, two girls and a boy. Alanna spends much of her knighthood defending the rights of women in a male dominated culture, as opposed to seeking out adventure. There is not a distinct antagonist in this book. Instead, this books seems to be a sort of coming of age story for Alanna. She continues her search for love and acceptance, while turning down a marriage proposal, and mastering her Gift.
Recommendation
I give Book Three 3 out of 12 buttered rolls. This could be the “Empire Strikes Back” installment of this series but really, I was left totally underwhelmed. There is so much drama. I’m talking femi-nazi, “Girls can do anything boys can do,” “A family will kill my career,” “Anyone who supports a patriarchal society is enslaving women,” type feminism. It got old, and without a specific antagonist or quest to focus on, it got old fast. Don’t get me wrong, I do like the idea of a female heroine. I encourage my daughters to be anything they want to be. But between the what-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-life drama and the men-hate-strong-women femi-nazi propaganda, I am left hoping there is a “Return of the Jedi” finish to this series. Here’s hoping for the best.
I enjoyed the first book and dove right into the next book in this series. Although I still only get a few minutes here and there, I enjoy my reading time and keep my books accessible throughout the day. Steven often grabs my book and tells me to “Put that book down now!”
Content
This book follows Alanna and her quest for knighthood. And apparently her quest is approved by the Goddess Mother. Alanna is visited by the Goddess, who gives her a magical charm and a guardian cat.
At the end of the first book, Prince Jonathan found out Sir Alan of Trebond’s secret. But that doesn’t stop Jonathan from choosing this young page as his squire when he is knighted. As squire, it is Alanna’s duty to protect her friend and liege against foes seen and unseen. Throughout many trials, Alanna serves boldly and gains her shield as a knight.
Although the storyline was fun and full of adventure, there was a lot of drama. Alanna faces many challenges while hiding her gender. One challenge is to acknowledge her romantic feelings towards her comrades as they learn her secret. And even though there wasn’t anything explicit, I wasn’t impressed with the loose morals at court.
Recommendation
I give Book Two 8 out of 12 buttered rolls. This is a drop from book one of the same series. This series is definitely geared towards a younger audience. However, I felt that much of the underlying subject matter would not be appropriate for my twelve year old. Like I mentioned before, nothing was explicit or inappropriate in its conveyance. But I didn’t like the inferences and those underlying messages distracted me from the adventure.
I haven’t posted much lately. That’s because I’ve been feeling rather numb.
NUMB
As someone with depression, numbness isn’t new to me… and yet it is. While I have also been feeling quite emotionally numb, what I’m referring too is an actual physical numbness that has taken hold of my left arm.
Tuesday of last week I lost feeling in about 1/2 of my left hand and a good portion of my forearm. My pinkie, ring finger, the portion of the hand below them, and down into my forearm to my elbow is all tingly and numb.
I don’t think I’m having a slow heart attack, and I don’t remember hitting it on anything. I have no explanation for why this has happened. At first I thought my arm had just fallen asleep, but it hasn’t woken up for a week now.
REACTION
I haven’t done anything about it yet. I called the VA and there was a 15 minute wait on the phone to schedule an appointment, so I hung up. Waiting that long would have made the rest of me numb too! If it doesn’t get better than I’ll be force to call back I’m afraid.
I mentioned it at my mental health group meeting last week and one of the VA guys said that my Ulnar nerve runs down the arm and if it were pinched it would cause numbness in those fingers. I was interested in that, so I looked up more info on it.
Turns out he was right. I often rest the inside of my elbow on the edge of the desk while on the computer. The cause, symptoms, and other info here was exactly as I’ve experienced. Gold-star for Alan!
I says it can go away in a few weeks (!?!) at home. If not to see a Dr. If it doesn’t go away then it may need some surgery (!!!). So, I won’t be spending as much time at my computer desk. So if you don’t here as much from me you’ll know why.
Post about the insurance call I mentioned last week is still coming.
Josh will hopefully be posting about his first Scout Camp, so look for that upcoming!
We received the Amber Brown collection as a gift after our last house fire. These books are suggested for ages 7 & up. I love to see my kids read and was excited to try out a new set. I read all eight this week.
You Can’t Eat your Chicken Pox, Amber Brown
It’s the summer following third grade and Amber Brown is crossing the pond. She has an aunt in London and when her parents separated, her dad moved to Paris. Unfortunately, Amber comes down with chicken pox on the second day in London. Kind of a cute story, but really weighed down with the parent line. Amber has a “Dad book” that she talks to because she misses her dad so much. When her dad insinuates that he wasn’t sure her chicken pox were real or if they were a story to keep the two apart, I got uncomfortable.
I’m only a kid. Why do I have to worry about all of this?
I tend to agree. I realize that not all kids have a perfect family life. But this is pretty heavy for a 7 year old to read.
Amber Brown Goes Fourth
It’s the beginning of fourth grade and Amber Brown misses her best friend who moved away before summer vacation. Lots of kids have a hard time with the beginning of the new school year and trying to make new friends. It seems fairly realistic in the way the fourth graders relate to one another. But the storyline gets high-jacked with negative emotions. Yes, Amber Brown resolves to “go fourth” with determination, but there is so much negative, so much worrying. Young children should be reading light-hearted stories where the “conflict” is how much of a mess they made and how much trouble they are going to get in.
Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit
When Amber Brown’s school work begins to suffer, she vows to do better. But there are so many things that have her worried and make it hard to focus on school. Her mom wants her to meet her new boyfriend. Amber wants things to go back to the way before the divorce. Her biggest fear is that she might like the boyfriend and that wouldn’t be fair to her dad. It’s a lot for a nine-year old to deal with.
Forever Amber Brown
This book deals with change. Some changes are good and we chose them. Others are kind of forced on us. When Amber’s mom receives a marriage proposal, the two of them head to Alabama to stay with their best friends and make some decisions. Amber likes the time spent with her best friend, Justin, who moved away just 6 months earlier. While there, she learns that change is inevitable, but she will forever be Amber Brown.
Amber Brown Sees Red
This book is full of silly episodes, beginning with skunks in the school. Yeah, just a little unrealistic but kids would totally eat it up. More negativity as Amber’s dad announces his intention of moving back to New Jersey. And what children’s series doesn’t have a bad haircut as the icing on the cake.
Amber Brown is Feeling Blue
Amber is forced to choose between her parents. Thanksgiving with Mom and boyfriend Max in Washington State, or New York City with her dad. There is also a new girl in her class, Kelly Green. Despite a rocky first day together, the two girls become friends. The story dwells so much on Amber’s emotional turmoil, that the character development is seriously lacking.
I, Amber Brown
It’s Christmas time, but this book fails to spread the holiday cheer. As Amber’s father moves back from Paris, they begin a joint-custody routine. Amber even pits the parents against each other when her mom says no to pierced ears, but her dad doesn’t know about that conversation. When dad finds a place to rent nearby, Amber loves the family that lives upstairs.
Amber Brown is Green With Envy
This is the last book in our box set, but not the last one in “the colorful world of Amber Brown.” But these books just aren’t very colorful to me. In this book, there is more fighting between the parents and Mom and boyfriend decide to move to a new house so ex-husband won’t have a history there. And Amber is mad about it. Dad goes on a date. And Amber is mad about it. Once again, the whole book is filled with anger and negativity but everything is supposed to be all better with the last two lines…
Life can be very confusing . . . . filled with good things and filled with bad things.
But it’s my life . . . . . and I have choices.
Recommendation
I only give this series 2 out of a dozen buttered rolls. It was pretty easy reading for the age suggested 7 & up. The books are not a “numbered series.” I read Amber Brown is Feeling Blue first and was totally confused. The author spends very little time in character development so if you read them out of order, you will be lost. So I looked on the “Box,” figured out the order and followed the story line much better. They should be read in order, even if the author won’t tell you what that order is.
And then there is the content. The cover promises an “Always Bright, Amazingly Bold, Amber Brown. I disagree. Amber was rarely bright (whitty or positive), and her boldness flirted with rude and disrespectful because it was always aimed at her parents. Divorce is real, it is ugly, but I doubt these books would help a child cope. They took real situations and dwelt on the negative. I don’t think you can spend 150 pages filled with hate, anger, and malice, then say “but it’s my life” and expect it all to be better.
I am grateful that my children are not in Amber’s situation. Maybe a child from a broken home would find comfort in these books, confirmation that they are not the only ones that feel this way. Still, I think there has to be a better, more healthy way to help children cope with those feelings.
Last week I posted about our glorious relics found while cleaning out my parents house. You can read about it here. This week is Part II of that story. Last week was mostly from the “Great Room” above the garage. This week is mostly from the basement.
“What is that?” is the most common question the kids have asked while cleaning? So far, the answers have included the following:
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (Book Three in the Song of the Lioness Series) by Tamora Pierce
We received the Amber Brown collection as a gift after our last house fire. These books are suggested for ages 7 & up. I love to see my kids read and was excited to try out a new set. I read all eight this week.
