Search Reviews

If you looked into the mirror of your soul, would you like what you saw? What if the mirror was represented by another person?

Lucy is a modern Irish girl who has everything, a nice home and a loving family. On top of that, she is an outstanding student. But when she doesn't win the coveted prize for the best composition in her class, Lucy is devastated.

Assuming she was going to win, because she had won before, Lucy is bitter, angry and nasty to her best friend when she wins the prize, clearly revealing that Lucy is one very spoiled child. Not for long, however.

Her grandmother gives her a magical ruby ring for her 11th birthday, changing her life dramatically and her attitude toward others when she sees her own disagreeable traits in another.

When Lucy is transported back into time and becomes a servant, she soon finds out how comfy modern living is and what a blessing it is to have parents.

But how can she return home? She has lost the magical ruby ring. Will she find it or will someone else, locking her in the past forever?

In journeying back into Irish history, the reader witnesses a first hand account of the turbulent years leading up to Ireland's independence, the inner workings of a manor, and the extreme poverty and abuse of the poor by the rich land owners.

The Secret of the Ruby Ring offers a fascinating look at Irish history, while teaching the importance of gratitude, a fun read that educates in the process.

This is a great book! Although Stephen Covey is a Mormon, it is amazing how Catholic his underlying principles are. I was particularly struck by this because I happened to be reading it alongside The World's First Love by Bishop Fulton Sheen, which is about Our Lady. Both authors discussed the true meaning of freedom at length and their principles and conclusions were remarkably similar. The book covers seven major ideas, which when incorporated into our lives, can have a profound effect on our ability to accomplish goals and deal well with other people. These seven habits are also addressed in Mr. Covey's earlier book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, but here they are applied to those we have to live with every day and have the greatest responsibility toward. The language used is not highly religious. But if you read between the lines and consider his ideas in light of your Faith, you will find this a very useful book for enhancing your family life on both the natural and spiritual levels. An excellent book to read alongside this book in order to amplify the spiritual considerations is A Map of Life by Frank Sheed. The two books together might make an excellent summer reading and discussion program for the teenagers and adults in your household.

The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman is neither a Catholic book, nor does it tell of a saint--it is not even around a religious theme. And yet, it is an all-time favorite in this seven-children Catholic family! The book tells about a family that grows and grows... almost every time we turn the page there is a new baby! The fact that they are silly--or fussy--eaters, which our kids have never been, matters little to us. The illustrations are absolutely captivating and darling, and the rhymes are known by all the kids, who can recite the book from cover to cover. The details of family life, the messy rooms, the bunk beds... and trees outside that grow as the babies arrive and the kids grow! The boy-girl-boy order of their kids is the same as in our family which has delighted the kids all of these years.

I find in The Seven Silly Eaters a strong pro-life, pro large-family book as each child is so openly welcomed even if they don't seem to have much apparent affluent power. If you have never read and enjoyed the illustrations of The Seven Silly eaters, give it a try!

Publisher's site has sample pages and the recipe! http://www.maryannhoberman.com/books/sevenSillyEaters.html

This book was originally published in hardcover as Snow White and Rose Red: A Modern Fairy Tale. The original edition is out of print.

Among homeschool teenage girls who read this book, there is an interesting phenomenon occurring. They read this book, not once, not twice, but numerous times. In fact, my daughter's friend has lost track of how many times she has read it. Intrigued by this phenomenon, I was curious to read this book.

Set in modern times, The Shadow of the Bear, based on the original Grimm fairy tale "Snow White and Rose Red", is a contemporary story of two teenage girls who have just moved to New York city with their recently widowed mother. While they attend the local Catholic high school, their mother works in a hospital emergency room.

What makes this book particularly interesting is that the girls were once homeschooled and regret having to go to a traditional school. The high school scene is accurately portrayed with all the negative problems of teenage life. In spite of this, the girls, even though they may be naive at times, always try to do the right thing. Unfortunately, Rose's trusting nature, curiosity, and desire to be popular get her into some very, serious trouble on more than one occasion. Fortunately, her sound moral character, spunk, and ingenuity, along with God's Divine Providence, help her out.

A teenage girl could easily identify with Blanche's sensitivity and shyness, while wishing perhaps to be more confident and flamboyant like Rose. Rose, bold, forthright, and courageous, is unique in that she isn't afraid to say the truth. In one particularly dramatic moment, Rose confronts Rob, a cocky, popular student, and his friends, when she tells them in no uncertain terms what a real man is.

Ultimately, a number of literary devices, such as realistic dialogue, true-to-life characters that are real heroines (they are good and want to do good, in spite of their faults), and a multilevel plot, combine to make this an interesting book to be enjoyed after repeated readings.

In some ways, this book touches the souls of so many teenagers, because they sense these girls could be their friends. In addition to following the original plot, this story grapples with the deeper issues that teenagers have to face. The cruel, lonely world of high school life with students vying to be the most popular is accurately depicted. Similar to the novel Pride and Prejudice, the girls must judge the real value of character, and virtue is not always in appearance or first impressions. While trying to determine the true nature of some of the other characters of the opposite sex, they inadvertently immerse themselves in a page-turning mystery.

In a world that offers teenagers too many depressing, immoral or amoral choices for literature, this is a treasure, which unsuspectingly upholds true moral choices.