Wrestling with Tom Sawyer by L. L. Samson (Review)

Wrestling With Tom Sawyer (The Enchanted Attic)

By L. L. Samson

(received for review purposes)   

Genre- Juvenile Fiction / General

Published by- Zonderkidz

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 192

Age Group- 9-12 years-old

Physical description of book- paperback, list price $7.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-74057-5

In Wrestling With Tom Sawyer, L. L. Samson, it is time for Aunt Portia and Uncle Augustus’s monthly party, the theme is Mark Twain.  The circle is ready to bring somebody from literature.  The teens, Ophelia and Linus (twins), along with Walter have decided to Tom Sawyer.

The teens have found a secret tunnel under their school and need Tom’s help to find the some of the town’s inhabitant’s missing jewelry.  There is trouble in the tunnels, Joe, from the novel, is there.

What are they all going to do?  Will Tom make it back to the circle in time?

Click here for a sample.

About the author- L. L. Samson currently lives in Kentucky with her family.  She has been writing for a long time and so has her husband.  Samson has written over 25 books.

My thoughts- I have read all the books in The Enchanted Attic series, by L. L. Samson.  I have enjoyed reading all of them.  They keep getting better.  Wrestling With Tom Sawyer was the best one so far.  There was a lot of detail and the maturing of Ophelia, Linus, and Walter made the story even better.  I thought it was great that they didn’t need the adult’s advice and help as much.  Two things I am curious about are a possible relationship between Ophelia and Walter and what will happen between Cato and Linus.  Cato had been causing a lot of trouble with the circle and had brought in the antagonists from the stories into the children’s life.

Once again Samson has made me want to read the book she has based her book on.  I don’t know if it was her intent, but it has happened with all of the books in the series.  I highly recommend this book tween and teen boys and girls.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Wrestling With Tom Sawyer, by L. L. Samson, for free through DJC Communications.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

Dueling with the Three Musketeers by L.L. Samson

Dueling with the Three Musketeers (The Enchanted Attic- Book 3) by L.L. Samson 

Genre- Juvenile Fiction / General

Published by- ZonderKidz (Zondervan)

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 176

Age Group- 9 and up

Description of book- paperback, list price $7.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-72799-6

Linus, Ophelia, and Walter are back and ready for a new adventure with the enchanted circle in the attic.  Ophelia has been reading The Three Musketeers and Madrigal Pierce’s brother has returned and plans to sell the mansion he owns with his sister.  The children decide to bring D’Artagnan to help them save the mansion (Pierce School For Young People).  The evil Countess de Winter comes along with D’Artagnan.  Will Linus, Ophelia, and Walter be able to save the school?  What will happen with the Countess?

About the author- L.L. Samson lives in Kentucky with her husband, Will.  She has been a co-author with her husband and has written over 25 books herself.

My thoughts- This is the third book of The Enchanted Attic series.  I thought it was the best one so far.  There was a lot more action, new characters, and more fun!

I thought it was interesting how more people were able to come through the enchanted circle.  I have not read The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas, but I was impressed by Milady, the Countess de Winter.  She wasn’t so evil after all.  I’m impressed how Ophelia, Linus, and Walter are able to treat people kindly and change their lives.  The children change the lives of the people they live with as well.  I’m impressed with such nice children.  We all need to help others like Ophelia, Linus, and Walter do.

My suggestion to you is to get a copy of this book and read it.  You will learn about fun book characters and how to be helpful to others.

Here is my review for Saving Moby Dick.

Here is my review for Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Dueling With the Three Musketeers by L.L. Samson for free from DJC Communications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. All links were current when posted.

The Enchanted Attic by L.L. Samson

Genre- Juvenile Fiction/General

Series- The Enchanted Attic (Book 2)

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 192

Age Group- Tweens

Description of book- paperback, list price $7.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-72797-2

Inspired by Herman Melville and his 1851 novel, Moby Dick, Linus and Ophelia, 14-year-old twins, and their friend, Walter, meet Captain Ahab in their Enchanted Attic.

He is unlike Quasimodo, unhappy and temperamental.  As they try to change his focus from capturing and killing the great white whale, to gathering any whale oil to take home, they are in for some adventures.  He tries to take a boat, kill a wild cat, and learn how to navigate the internet.

Will the children be able to turn Captain Ahab’s focus away from the whale?

Excerpt from the Book!

About the author- L. L. Samson has been a co-author with her husband and has written over 25 books herself.

My thoughts- I thought this book was just as exciting as Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame.  Linus, Ophelia and Walter don’t have as much fun with Captain Ahab as they did with Quasimodo, but I think the kids learn how different people react to different situations.

I really liked Captain Ahab.  I was impressed at how well he adapted to and enjoyed today’s technology.  I’m glad he wanted to take some of the technology back, like having a flushing system on the Pequod.

I can see how some readers may not like the addition of another grownup, Aunt Portia, because it starts as kids only and then includes Father Lou.  I have a feeling though that they may both be needed in future stories.

I thought this book was great and I may just go read Moby Dick to see what happens to Captain Ahab.  Please check out this book.  The next book out will be Dueling with the Three Musketeers.

My Review for Book One-Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Saving Moby Dick by L.L. Samson for free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. All links were current when posted.

Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame by L. L. Samson

Genre- Juvenile Fiction/General

Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame by L. L. Samson

Series- The Enchanted Attic

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 141

Age Group- Tweens

Description of book- softcover, list price $7.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-72795-8

A secret attic is discovered by twins, Ophelia and Linus.  As an avid bookworm, twelve-year-old Ophelia falls asleep reading The Hunchback of Notre Dame in the attic when she wakes up and discovers Quasimodo.  The twins have the help of friends to keep Quasimodo safe and to help him get back to the time and place where he belongs before he is destroyed. 

Will they make it in time?

About the author- L. L. Samson has been a co-author with her husband and has written over 25 books herself.

 

My thoughts- I was captivated by this book from the beginning.  I thought it was clever to have two different titles to most of the chapters and I was reminded of the Narnia series by C. S. Lewis with the word usage.

 

I have been trying to think of something that I didn’t like about this book and I can’t think of anything.  The plot and characters were well developed and I couldn’t stop reading it once I started. 

 

Other than the excellent storyline, I thought it was great that this book was written for both boys and girls.  It is difficult to find good books for boys and it is great when the book works well for boys or girls.

 

I would highly recommend this book to all juveniles.  This book made me want to check The Hunchback of Notre Dame out of the library so I could learn even more about Quasimodo.  I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame by L. L. Samson for free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. All links were current when posted.