Sharon Shinn: Angelica

One Word Summary: Angels
More Words: This is the fourth book in the Samaria Series. I haven't read the others. This one is great. The alien culture is diverse, the story is interesting, the characters are solid, and there's just enough parallelism to our reality to give a person ideas to chew on.
Synopsis: An unknown enemy is annihilating isolated communities in Samaria (a continent on a planet colonized by humans who've forsaken most technology and have adopted a peace loving theocracy). While the government struggles to protect the population, the Archangel-elect is trying to manage his domestic issues. He has one rebellious younger sister, and one fiancee who is still in love with a former partner, and a host of angels to manage. Basically he's trying to save the world and everyone in it all alone.
Rate: 3 arias

Penguin Putnam Inc., 2003

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley: Leap of Faith

One Word Summary: at the principle's office
Summary: Nobody listens to Abby. So she takes things into her own hands, and sends Brett McAvery to the ER. Zero tolerance lands her in Catholic School where she learns to make herself heard and takes a leap of faith.
More Words: This was an okay story. Abby is a smart girl. She's incurably honest. She asks lots of questions. They're same questions most people ask who want to understand about God. For the most part she comes up with good answers. At least I like the answers because I am a believer and I'm too lazy to cast around for some doubts. Maybe an athiest would riducule this book, and an agnostic wouldn't care, however it might be helpful to a few. I'm glad KBB wrote this story.

Questions:
Truly? Are all unhappy families unhappy in their own way?
Should I include my Scripture reading in the reading journal?

Action List:
Read Tolstoy
Finish Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Dial Books, 2007