A Wolf Called Ring by A.W. Sibley

I asked one of the young adults in my home to review this book.  She is an avid reader in high school, and loves animals and their stories.

In my opinion, the book A Wolf Called Ring by Dr. A.W. Sibley was not well-written.  The paragraphs in this book are at average 5 – 10 sentences which makes it hard to read.  It gets me distracted when there are so many unnecessary pauses in the story.  I’m pretty sure that this is supposed to be an autobiography but it isn’t clearly stated.

The wolf’s story line is very detached and makes no sense sometimes.  There are many pieces of information he used for Ring’s part of the story that made no sense and weren’t factual.  It is hard to believe that he actually did some research on this book.  There are multiple places in the book where it mentions that anyone can know that his name is Ring just because of the ring around his neck.

The book wasn’t all bad, though.  The ending was partially a cliffhanger and it was a bit sad, which can be nice in a story.   The book had some good points but most of it wasn’t relevant to the story.  When Honey Gal comes into the story, the reader gets distracted from Ring as we move into the story of his horse.  It is hard to believe he remembers so much from when he was 6-9 years old.

To conclude this review, I will state that I believe the book cover was misleading.  The front cover art makes to boy look detached and apathetic.  All and all, I personally didn’t enjoy the book, but I am sure many others will.

photo credit: Amazon

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Doris and the Ankh by B.K. Brain

This review can also be found on Amazon.

I usually do not read books written for children or young adults - especially fantasy.  

I have a hard time following fantastical creatures and plots that seem realistic, but suddenly twist and and turn into something very unreal.  Fantasy catches me off-guard.  It surprises me in a way that makes me feel duped.  I don't understand why the cricket is talking, why the wizard turns the boy into a squirrel, how a wardrobe a wardrobe can open into a magical land.  I do not speak a language from Middle Earth nor do I imagine myself coming in contact with Greek gods and goddesses.  I feel utterly lost in Oz.

But all disbelief was suspended for with Doris and the Ankh.  For me, the informing style of narration was a benefit.  I followed the events of the story without needing to go back again and again, questioning what just occurred.  I was able to become submerged in the dark and whimsical.

The imaginative story moves along at an efficient pace, leaving no room for boredom.  Dialogue is well-written and creative, and although Doris is stereotypical at times, the familiarity of archetype is like traveling with a friend. 

And with the formula of hero + 3 unique companions, humor and tragedy are a must.  Readers will find them here.

Photo Credit: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423439845l/24881056.jpg