Halloween book reviews from Book & Game

Pumpkin Patch - Bad Seeds

By Brouhaha Games

This is a great game for 9 and up. It’s a quick 15 to 20-minute strategy game. The object of the game is to plant and gather the most seedling pumpkins. You are laying out seedling cards and coming up with a strategy to place the Cinderella pumpkin, but beware of the crows, and other players trying to lay their cards down first! Lots of fun spookiness!

Review by Julie

Original Wisdom

By Robert Wolff

Sometimes a book comes along that really lets you see the world from a different point of view. This is such a book. The author spent time among the aboriginal people of Malaysia, and he recounts his experiences in this book. There is such a contrast between traditional “hunter-gatherer” societies and the developed world. These stories gave me a new appreciation of the natural world and our place in it.

Review by Ben

Rough House

By Tina Ontiveros

Tina uses short snippets of her childhood memories to build a picture of life with Lloyd (her father) and how their relationship has shaped who she has become and, ultimately, how she is to love. Great book!

Review by Jannelle

The Loop

By Ben Oliver

Luka Kane has been falsely imprisoned in the Loop for just over 2 years. The Loop is the perfect prison system. It is run by Artificial Intelligence, requires only one human staff member, and is impossible to escape. Then Luka receives a hand-written message from the warden: “Luka, you have to get out…” What follows brings to light what has been happening outside and causes Luka to wonder if escaping was a mistake. This is an excellent dystopian young adult novel. Loved it!

Review by Jannelle

When we were young and brave

By Hazel Gaynor

This book takes you on an emotional roller coaster. A story that most people are not aware that happened during World War II. The story takes place in occupied China in a missionary boarding school. It tells of what children and teachers and had to endure. Truly a nightmare and horrific time in history that we should never forget. This was a gut-wrenching story, but well researched and you could feel as if you were almost there.

Review by Julie

You Be Mommy

By Karla Clark

You Be Mommy is a sweet story about a tired, working mom interacting with her young daughter. With fun rhymes and adorable illustrations, it’s one of my favorite new children’s books!

Review by Bethany