Journey into the past?Will the third ghost be found before fires take more lives? Can everyone be warned before Pompeii is buried again? What happens if a blizzard traps a family in East Germany? Will the Firebird help Soviet sisters outwit evil during WWII? And sneaking off to see the first aeroplane – what could go wrong?Ten authors explore the past, sending their young protagonists on … harrowing adventures. Featuring the talents of Yvonne Ventresca, Katharina Gerlach, Roland Clarke, Sherry Ellis, Rebecca M. Douglass, Bish Denham, Charles Kowalski, Louise MacBeath Barbour, Beth Anderson Schuck, and L.T. Ward.Hand-picked by a panel of agents, authors, and editors, these ten tales will take readers on a voyage of wonder into history. Get ready for an exciting ride!
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It’s been a long time since I’ve read a collection of various genre stories that had me so overwhelmed with emotion at the end, and the fact that it’s a middle-grade collection still boggles my mind. If I were still in the classroom, I would ask all my kid’s parents to seriously consider having their kids read this book. While some of the stories are light, most are deep and or emotionally intense, but still perfectly suited for young readers to grasp the depth of the concepts and themes presented. There isn’t one story in this collection I wouldn’t give an individual 5-star rating too. With that said, “The Blind Ship” and “Winter Days” have still stuck with me days after finishing the collection. Kudos to each of these authors, the IWSG, and the Dancing Lemur Press for releasing such an amazing book. I will read this again before the year ends.
The Third Ghost
The Ghosts of Pompeii
The Blind Ship
Dare, Double Dare
Return to Cahokia
Feathered Fire
The Orchard
Simon Grey and the Yamamba
A World of Trouble
Winter Days
Highly recommended to anyone but especially young readers, with parent approval.
A great collection of stories, some incredibly imaginative even with a bit of real history in them.
VOYAGERS
THE THIRD GHOST
This Anthology has some spooky stories so you might want to read them with the lights on. The authors did a beautiful job with their individual work. You’ll meet some very interesting characters, especially if you like ghosts.
THE THIRD GHOST
By Yvonne Ventresca
In the first story, THE THIRD GHOST, we meet Lewis who is worried as he gets ready to sneak out in the middle of the night and leave his not quite thirteen-year-old sister alone, since their mom works the late shift at the train depot. He goes there to watch for her, but he smells smoke, and his troubles are just beginning.
THE GHOSTS OF POMPEII
By Sherry Ellis
In this story, we meet again the adorable characters, Squirt and Bubba, from the author’s book Bubba and Squirt’s Dig to China. Here, the kids dig a hole with a magical shovel Grandpa gave them and it can take him anywhere he wants to go. How about to Italy for pizza? Squirt has reasons why they shouldn’t go. Bubba won’t listen. So, they soon are off on another adventure. All he wants is pizza, but they discover a lot more. I learned some history, too.
THE BLIND SHIP
By Bish Denham
A twelve-year-old boy named Jacques is off to visit his father on an island in the Caribbean. His mother gives him a journal to describe his journey. But he doesn’t expect what happens on the ship that puts his life in danger?
DARE, DOUBLE DARE
By Louise MacBeath Barbour
Eleven-year-old Sara and twelve-year-old Kelsey double dare each other when they go to explore what’s behind the forbidden door. And what do they find on the other side? More than they expected. A dare and a double-dare sure can cause a lot of excitement.
RETURN TO CAHOKIA
By L. T. Ward
It’s spring and Tonalli, her mama, and siblings are returning home after being away for eight months. Father has to stay behind with his brother. So the family travels above the clouds. Sounds interesting, if a bit scary, right? They brave storms, clouds, and lightning. They sleep in the thin white fluff of the clouds. So, travel along with the family to see what happens. Will they arrive home safely? Or does danger lie ahead of them? Enjoy the read.
FEATHERED FIRE
By Roland Clarke
This is a story about war and a girl named Vasey, who has goats. Her older sister, Kalyna, was a pilot that the Germans feared, along with her female comrades that they called Night Witches. The sad thing is her parents had been executed. And Vasey tells a tale about the rare Firebird girl named Maryushka, an an evil sorcerer. You sure want to read this interesting story.
THE ORCHARD
By Beth Anderson Schuck
Eleven-year-old Nels lives in a Utah community where she’s not really wanted. She takes care of six orchards and the trees. Her papa lost his life in a flood and his body was never found. The trees talk to Nels. When school starts Miss Falk is the teacher and I love her description. She really tries to teach her students, but being a former teacher myself I have to laugh when she sees a parade approaching the schoolhouse. I’m not telling.
SIMON GRAY AND THE YAMAMBA
By Charles Kowalski
Oyuki and Simon were born with the ability to see ghosts and spirits. They tried to escape by sea, and in 1620 they signed up as cabin boy, but the ship wrecked and they became castaways, then fugitives on their way to the English trading post. Along the way they find a fox caught in a trap and also meet some interesting people and what do you think they discover?
A WORLD OF TROUBLE
By Rebecca Douglass
Mattie Mae Scott is in a world of trouble, and it’s her daddy’s fault. It’s raining, flooding. Eleven-year-old Mattie and her best friend Gordon are trying to move the logs jamming into the creek. They should have stayed home instead of going to see the aeroplane at the fair. Now, how do they get out of this mess? Luckily, they have General, the horse, with them. Can they get home safely? And can they pretend they’ve been home all the time?
WINTER DAYS
By Katharina Gerlach
Tim and Katie are about to cross the border with their mother and father. Father tells them not to talk. Mother is afraid they’ll be sent to prison. Will they make it safely to their destination, or will Mother’s fear come true. A story that will keep you holding your breath to see what happens to this family.
Enjoy these ten stories. Happy Reading.