Survivor Diaries: Avalanche!

Survivor Diaries: Avalanche! (Book 2 of a 4 book series) by Terry Lynn Johnson   112 pages

The “Survivor Diaries” series is aimed at kids in Grads 3-7.  The first book, “Overboard,” provided valuable tips on how to survive in the water. And this book’s topic, “Avalanche” is no exception, as it is filled with life-saving tips.

Twelve-year-old twins Ashley and Ryan are on a skiing trip with the parents deep within Wyoming’s Grand Teton Mountains. Author Johnson paints beautiful portraits of the mountains covered in a fresh layer of powder. I was glad I read this on an unusual warm day in mid-November. I got the shivers a couple of times.

Ashley and Ryan are skilled skiers. Ryan is the better of the foursome and always in the lead. Earlier that day, Ryan had seen a pamphlet about a study that was occurring in the area on the wolverines.  I’ve learned a lot about wolverines from watching “Dr. Oakley: Yukon Vet.”  They are beautiful animals, but elusive and extremely dangerous.

Since the kids were so far ahead of their parents on the trail, they decided to veer off the trail in the hopes of seeing one of the animals. They could easily catch up with their parents without them evening knowing they had strayed off the trail.

It wasn’t long before they heard a loud growl and were enveloped in a blanket of snow, falling head over heels over head over heels. Ashley is the first one to realize what has happened and is on a desperate search to find her brother. Thanks to the class the two had taken, Ashley knows what to do to keep them safe until help can arrive. 

This short little book packs lots of adventure and knowledge into a readable, hopefully memorable (if readers ever find themselves in this situation) and exciting read.

Survivor Diaries: Avalanche! (Book 2 of a 4 book series) receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world. 

 

The Royal Rabbits of London (Books 2 and 3 in the series)

 The Royal Rabbits of London (Book 2 and 3 in the Series) by Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore  

Book 2: Escape From the Tower    224 pages

Book 3: The Great Diamond Chase    212 pages

Escape From the Tower

When last we saw Shylo Tawny-Tail, a shy country bunny, he had just helped the Royal Rabbits of London save the Queen from a most humiliating experience, devised by the evil Ratzis.  The RRL’s were so grateful and impressed that he was made a member of the secret society, complete with their badge imprinted on his paw.

The Ratzis (the grossest rats that ever lived) have a new scheme in mind. This time they want to embarrass the Royal Family and the President and First Lady of the United States in front of the entire world and ruin the relationship the two countries share!  Ohhhh those nasty creatures! They have uncovered the President’s biggest secret and plan to expose it during a televised State Dinner.

Readers learn more about the Ratzis, especially Papa Ratzi who controls this revolting gang of very large, very stinky two hundred rats. No one has ever seen him and he communicates via hologram texts.  

Can Shylo and the rest of the RRL’s save the two countries, especially the United States, from becoming the world’s laughingstock?  Surely Shylo can…thanks to the RRL’s motto: “Anything in the world is possible---by will and by luck, with a moist carrot, a wet nose, and a slice of mad courage!”

A fun little book that chapter book readers will surely enjoy.

The Royal Rabbits of London: Escape From the Tower gets 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

The Great Diamond Chase

Oh! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

Little Shylo Tawny-Tail has fallen asleep while on guard duty. He was supposed to be guarding the palace, but he alarms wake him, and he knows he’s in big trouble. Lots of things could have gone wrong, but the worst case scenario has happened: Someone has stolen the Siberian Diamond, the most valuable diamond in the world! The Queen is beside herself, crying almost hysterically!

The Royal Rabbits of London are already on the case, having herd the alarms deep in The Grand Burrow beneath the Buckingham Palace.

Shylo learns that the diamond was found in Russia 132 years ago by a peasant. It was sent to Catherine the Great.  One hundred years later, legend has it that the diamond was lost in a bet the Tsar had with his cousin, the King of England.

And worse, the RRL’s learn that the minks are town, more than likely to steal the magnificent jewel. And it gets even more complicated: the Ratzis want in on the action---they want to steal it for themselves and then there is Amura, the white Siberian tiger. What the heck is she up too?

How will the RRL’s find the diamond and return it to its rightful place in the palace’s Diamond Room.  Readers are offered the opportunity to learn about the rabbits that make up the Royal Rabbit’s. Sometimes I got a little confused on who was who, but the authors did a great job in detailing the idiosyncrasies of each rabbit.

Kids ages 8-12 or grades 3-7 will love this tale!

The Royal Rabbits of London: The Great Diamond Chase gets 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.