Rufus

This was an ok Catherine Storr book about a boy who is able to go to another time because of a knife. His sister and him are orphans except she gets chosen to belong in a home. He stucks in a school where a bully starts making him do things against his personality like stealing. Eventually he conquers his fear of the bully and is a better person in the end. I like the representation the book had on the power bullies have over people and I couldn't help but feel sorry for Rufus.

On Tangled Paths

This book by Theodor Fontane was ok but there was something missing. It could have been something great. It's about a couple Lene and Botho. Their love is brief and can't last because of their social status since she is just a poor seamstress. Eventually Botho marries a shallow woman and realizes just how great Lene was but gives her blessing to her new husband Franke. Fontane's book Effi Briest is a more popular classic. I'm curious about it since it's had multiple movie adaptations. I'll have to read that some time.

History and Mythology for Kids

This was an ok mythology book for children separated in three sections Norse, Egyptian, and Greek. There were also a couple of pages about Roman and Celtic mythology. I learned about Egyptian history in sixth grade so it's been a while. This book was a nice refresher. It could have used a few more pictures, preferably in color. It was a little steep in price though $30.

Lucy by Catherine Storr

This was an ok book by Catherine Storr about a girl who wants to be a boy and a detective. Her dream kind of comes true. She catches a couple of thieves and because of it gets accepted by the neighborhood boys. This wasn't essential reading. It was just an ok way to pass an afternoon. Still it was better than Storr's Vicky.

Vicky by Catherine Storr

I consider Catherine Storr to be an underrated children's writer. I read her book The Chinese Egg twice. It was an imaginative adventurous book with likable characters. Then I learned it had a sequel which was very out of print. I tracked it down for a reasonable price. Then I read it and was let down. It was about Vicky finding her biological mother and father. Not much happens in the book. There's no adventure involved in the search either. The characters Stephen and Chris were barely in the book. Then there was a hint of an inappropriate romance that pretty much destroyed the book for me. I suggest you read Marianne Dreams or The Chinese Egg again instead.

No Clock in the Forest

I decided to give this out of print fantasy book a chance. It's a Christian book influenced by Narnia. There's nothing wrong with being influenced as long as you try to bring something of yourself to the table. It wasn't my thing.

The Chinese Egg

Catherine Storr was a children's writer most known for her awesome Marianne Dreams which was later made into the movie Paperhouse. Marianne Dreams was by far her masterpiece but I liked The Chinese Egg as well. This is more young adult though. It's about a boy who finds an egg in an antique like place. Only he ends up breaking it but by doing so he unleashes its magic. It gives him and another local girl Vicky supernatural powers. I like the dynamic between Stephen and the sister Chris and Vicky. Chris is the beautiful one and the one he is drawn to at first but by the end of the book he is falling for Vicky. Through Vicky and his foresight they are able to see into events concerning the kidnapping of a baby. The kidnapper is an abusive man and I couldn't help but feel for Maurren, the dumb overweight girl who is there to take care of the baby and along for the ride. She hates living wtih him but doesn't have the guts or the brains to leave the situation. I like how the police force is handled, their skepticism of the situation but in the end how they decide to take a chance on the teenagers. I didn't expect the ending. Overall it was a good read.