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In “On Seas of Glory” the U.S. Navy meets a storyteller worthy of its epic. John Lehman was Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of the Navy, and the man most responsible for rejuvenating the service during the 1980s. Lehman here gives a sweeping narrative of the Navy, from the Revolutionary War to the present day, filled with […]
Crystal’s Grand Entry (Crystal Blake Series, Book 3)
From School Library Journal ea. vol: (Quick Fox Bks.). CIP. Chariot Bks: David C. Cook. 1986. pap.$2.95. Grade 5-8 Blend a Nancy Drew mystery with a horse story, add a dash each of Christian precepts and “The Girls of Canby Hall,” and transport the mixture to Idahothe result is this fluffy Western series. Crystal is a cute, blonde 14 year old who seems to leap from one adventure to another, accompanied by her trusty horse, her handsome boyfriend, and her Nez Perce girlfriend. In this formula fiction, wholesome Crystal faces few problems. Her horse Caleb always performs to perfection, winning a series of events for the high-school rodeo team. With her cohorts, she easily solves the mystery in each volume. Her major fault seems to be her ever-present jealousy regarding her boyfriend. Although the plotlines are fast-moving, the writing is awkward and the editing sloppy. Except for Gabrielle, the wise-cracking Native American, characters are cardboard. Even the horse, whose presence will attract readers, lacks personality. Some scenes authentically portray rodeo action, but they’re overshadowed by others that are “saddled” with irrelevant dialogue or are eminently laughable. The frequent mention of the Lord and Crystal’s reliance on prayer might increase the series’ appeal to some readers, but for superior rodeo fiction, stick with Lynn Hall’s Tin Can Tucker (Scribners, 1982). Charlene Strickland, Los Angeles County Public Library, ValenciaCopyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Classic children’s book. Help your child to discover the magic of reading.
