Leven Thumps, Book One: The Gateway by Obert Skye

Fourteen-year-old Leven Thumps (a.k.a. "Lev") lives a wretched life in Burnt Culvert, Oklahoma. But his life is about to change and his destiny be fulfilled as he learns about a secret gateway that bridges two worlds -- the real world and Foo, a place created at the at the beginning of time in the folds of the mind that makes it possible for mankind to dream and hope, aspire and imagine. But Foo is in chaos, and three transplants from that dreamworld have been sent to retrieve Lev, who alone has the power to save Foo.

Enter Clover, a wisecracking, foot-high sidekick; Winter, a girl with a special power of her own; and Geth, the rightful heir to Foo. Their mission: to convince Lev that he has the power to save Foo. Can this unique band of travelers help Lev overcome his doubt? Will Lev find the gateway in time? Or will Sabine and his dark shadows find the gateway first and destroy mankind?

Stitchley's Rating:
This is an easy read and is supposedly written for 8-12 year olds.  Now I am far beyond that age group but I very much enjoyed this book. This book is all about dream, and how important our dreamings and imaginings are to our every day lives and what we are capable of becoming because of those dreams. The characters are imaginative and the story itself is unique.  While it is not a perfect book it is one that I found I liked enough that I have since purchased all of the following novels.  Some parts are a little predictive, but it was written for a younger age group.  It is written with a great deal of humor, descriptive language, and color.  

Instances of Swearing

• I do not recall any instances of swearing

Sword of Truth, Book One: Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help ... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword-- to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed ... or that their time has run out.

This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.

Stitchley's Rating:
I realize this going to be a bit longer than most of my comments, but with this book I think it would be hard to not go long.  This book is one of the longest books that I've read in a long time.  It is over 800 pages long.  To be honest the only reason I decided to read it was because the TV show, Legend of the Seeker, ended and I was (embarrassingly) a little more than devastated.  It was the first show I had gotten into in a very long time and when it ended I decided I would read the book. I really enjoyed the book too.  So much that I purchased the next two on a whim... but I haven't read them yet because they look so long and I have been so busy with life that I just can't make myself start something that is almost as think as the Bible.
The story is entertaining, complex, and a complete universe contained in a book. It is an amazing world of light and dark that is easy to relate to and draws you into the world. There is romance, action, good, evil, betrayal, about everything that you can find in any epic saga series.
It varies from the show, but the core components are still there.  I wouldn't give it to any middle schoolers I know to read because it is a little too dark for that; this is not a Tolkien or Lewis kind of saga.  I would suggest it to any of my friends who love to read though.  I hope to eventually read more of the books in the series, but for now the size of them and my lack of time is just too daunting.

Instances of Swearing:

• Bitch: 3
• Even though there isn't very much swearing there is violence and physical abuse scenes in this book.

Beauty & A Dog Called Kitty by Bill Wallace

A Horse Named Beauty

She was an old horse, but she still had a lot of life in her. And she was the best friend Luke needed after the pain of his parents' divorce and the move to Oklahoma to live with his difficult grandfather. Luke could have had a younger horse, one better able to keep up with a boy's adventures. But it was Beauty that Luke loved. He found himself sharing his hopes, dreams, and fears with the old horse. With Beauty, Luke was finally able to enjoy life again.

Until one night, in a wild storm, Beauty escapes from the corral into a terrible trap, and Luke is faced with the most difficult decision he's ever had to make.

Stichley's Rating:
This was one of my favorite books as a kid. I think I read it a half a dozen of times at least.  Every time I read it I cried too.  I still cry when I read it. It is a great book about a boy and his horse.  I chose to post it with A Dog Called Kitty because to me these books are linked.  I think that any of Bill Wallace's books would be great for teens and read most of them when I was a teen.  I don't remember any swearing in this book.

The puppy was small and fuzzy, with a friendly, wagging tail -- and Ricky was afraid of him!
No wonder, since he was attacked by a dog when he was just a baby. So when a stray puppy comes sniffling around the farm, Ricky tells it to get lost.
But the puppy keeps trying to play with Ricky. And every time Ricky's Mom feeds the cats, the little dog comes running. The cats aren't sharing their food, however, and the poor pup is slowly starving.
If Ricky doesn't overcome his fear, the little puppy may die -- but if he lets himself get close enough to feed it, he may find the best friend he's ever had!

Stichley's Rating:

I was never a kid to fear any animal so I read this book and was shocked to imagine anyone could possibly be afraid of a little dog--My Dog was probably 30 kg when I was 10 so how could a small puppy be scary?  I read the book and loved it from beginning to end.  It was probably my first book I read of Bill Wallace and one of the first books that I read and actually really enjoyed. I had a hard time finding books that I liked as a kid and teenager and this was one that first got me interested in reading. Once again, I don't recall any swearing in this book.

The Maze & Kokopelli's Flute by Will Hobbs

Just fourteen, Rick Walder is alone, on the run, and desperate. Stowing away in the back of a truck, he suddenly finds himself at a dead end, out in the middle of nowhere. The Maze. In this surreal landscape of stark red-rock spires and deep sandstone canyons, Rick stumbles into the remote camp of Lon Perigrino, a bird biologist who is releasing fledgling California condors back into the wild. Intrigued by the endangered condors and the strange bearded man dedicated to saving them, Rick decides to stay on. When two men with a vicious dog drive up in a battered old Humvee, Rick discovers that Lon and his birds are in grave danger. Will he be able to save them? In a heart-stopping adventure infused with the spirit of the Icarus myth and a boy's dreams of flight, Will Hobbs brings readers a unique tale of identity, personal growth, and friendship.

Stichley's Rating:
I read this book a long time ago, but it has always been a favorite.  It was the book that got me interested in paragliding, an interest that still persists today.  While I have yet to own my own glider or have the opportunity to go paragliding myself I have had an interest in it for years and studied it from a far.  This book is filled with adventure and is perfect for those who are looking for a light read that are beyond the age group suggested, or for teen boys and adventurous girls in the suggested age group.

Instances of Swearing:

• I don't recall any swearing in this book, just action and adventurous fun.

This unique and compelling fantasy/adventure is set in northern New Mexico. The mood is created immediately as Tepary Jones, 13, sets out to view a total eclipse of the full moon from the ruins of a cliff dwelling near his family's farm, but the quiet mystery of the Ancient Ones is shattered by illegal pot-hunters. Tep finds an eagle-bone flute they leave behind, and his adventures become complicated by a magic older than the ruins. He finds himself changing into a bushy-tailed wood rat each night, which both hinders and helps him to find the pot-hunters; develop drought-resistant seeds with his father; and save his mother from the hantavirus, a disease thought to be contracted from rodent droppings. Both parents are scientists and have encouraged their son to enjoy and respect nature, and to help preserve the variety of life on earth as well as the beauties of the past. They are both fully developed individuals who capture and hold readers' interest. Even Dusty, the dog, has a rare personality. Hobbs vividly evokes the Four Corners region and blends fantasy with fact so smoothly that the resulting mix can be consumed without question. Subplots flow together naturally, and ancient stories and sensibilities become one with modern lives. Outstanding characters, plot, mood, and setting combine in this satisfying and memorable book.

Stichley's Rating: 
This book was not one of my first exposures to this area of the country since I come from here.  It was a book I enjoyed since it had a lot of my local area around.  It was a book that, as with other Will Hobbs books, quickly grabbed my interest as a teen and was filled with adventure and excitement.  This book also had a lot of history and science from the Anasazi area of our country.  It was interesting to read about the problems that currently affect the area and the magic of the past that was interwoven into it.  

Instances of Swearing:

• I don't recall any swearing in this book, just action and adventurous fun.