A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Books for Young Adults

Review: Spill Zone

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Spill Zone, by New York Times Best Selling Author, Scott Westerfeld, is an interesting book.  I admittedly, wasn’t sure of it when I first started reading it, but then I became very interested in how the story would turn out in the end, and I’d love to read book two.  ‘Cause I really want to know the complete ending!


It’s geared for teens, and as such, you’ll want to be mindful of language issues if letting your younger children read it.   I didn’t care the swearing, and that almost turned me off the book, but I kept reading because I wanted to know what would happen next. 

The images aren’t the grainy ones I’ve come to expect from many graphic novels, but are clear, well drawn, and carefully coloured.

The story follows Addison (Addie) as she ventures into her hometown taking pictures to sell to help support her and her sister.  She’s not supposed to go into her hometown ever since the disaster, but one has to find a way to support oneself eh?

Entering the Spill Zone is dangerous indeed but Addie has developed rules in order to stay safe.  These rules sustain her life. Then an offer she can’t hardly refuse comes her way. Is it worth breaking the rules?  You’ll have to read it yourself to find the answer to that!

It’s not a light happy read this book, it has this dark overtone, and you’re left wondering…there’s got to be a bad guy, who is it?   What is it?  Is it in the Spill Zone or is it COMING to the Spill Zone?  Will Addie and her sister be safe?

These are the questions I want answered…where oh where is book two??  Book one did an excellent job of setting me up.  🙂

Spill Zone
Alex Puvilland 
First Second Books
Graphic novel
Hardcover
240 pages
15-19 years
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books. 

Where can You Find it?

Amazon.ca: Spill Zone. 
Amazon.com: Spill Zone.

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: Psalm Hymns: Books 1,2,3

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Do you love to sing scripture?  Singing back to God the words he gave to his people?

L.L. Larkin has come up with a book to do just that and I really really like it.  It is called :  Psalm Hymns, Books 1, 2, & 3: Dramatic, Contemplative, Singable, Recitable Psalms!

No boring unsingable tunes.  But simple easily recognized tunes with the words of the Psalms.    

Let me tell you more. 

I actually received two versions of this book, which appear to be identical within.  The only different being the cover.   You’ll see the one cover here, and the other cover pictured below.

This book is FILLED with scripture written to the tune of familiar songs and hymns.


 Singing scripture to music is one of the best ways to learn scripture.  I remember when I was in bible college needing to memorize a great deal of scripture, I’d say them in my head until I got a tune going. That’s the premise behind this book.  Put scripture to music, particularly familiar music and watch people learn the word of God.

Easy enough eh?

This first book goes up to Psalm 89 and has us singing the Psalms to the tunes of Rock of Ages, Jesus Loves Me. Jesus keep me near the cross and At Calvary.

Various notes are found after some of the psalms.  Some speak to how other musicians used the psalm in music, others to the message found in the passage.

I have to admit, I had some mixed thoughts about these notes.  I loved knowing how other artists used that particular psalm, but wasn’t sure if it was really a part of a music book to also act a bit as a commentary.   Pros and cons right?  I liked what he had to say, but wondered if the book could be a bit shorter with less commentary.

 I found the words to the psalms followed the meaning of the Psalms quite nicely.  This book will be going into our “keep it” pile for use later on learning some Psalms.

IF you are music director in a church, or a sunday school leader or choir director you may find this book a boon to you as you strive to teach new music to your people.  Homeschool families with an emphasis on memorizing scripture may also find this book an aid in helping your students appreciate the beauty and teaching found within the Psalms.  Help them write God’s word upon their hearts!

Title: Psalm Hymns, Books 1, 2, & 3: Dramatic, Contemplative, Singable, Recitable Psalms!
Author: L.L. Larkins
Series: Psalm Hymns
Publisher: Capture Books
Pages: 290
Type: music, psalter

Reviewed for: BookCrash 

Where can I find it?
Amazon.ca: Psalm Hymns, books 1,2, 3
Amazon.com: Psalm Hymns, Books 1, 2, & 3: Dramatic, Contemplative, Singable, Recitable Psalms!

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: The Benevolent Bee

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You know what?  I happen to like bees.  I admittedly wasn’t fond of them as a child when one stun me on the eye (landed on my face so I grabbed at it)  BIG mistake.  So it took me a while to get back that, but once I realized how neat they were, I developed a fondness for them.  Stephanie Bruneau brings us the Benevolent Bee, a  book crafted to show us the bee and how she works, AND how we can benefit from all she provides.   

I have to admit, this is a rather neat book.  It talks briefly about the lifecycle and work of the honeybee, but devotes itself to the benefits of honeybees.

Ms Bruneau first teaches the science behind each of the benefits of the honeybee.  She works her way through propolis, pollen, honey, royal jelly, venom and beeswax.   Did you know that in it’s final state honey can last forever without spoiling? 

She follows this up with recipes, crafts or projects one can do.  You can learn to make elderberry syrup, honey fire tonic, royal jelly fudge, stinging nettle tea with honey, turn honeycomb into beeswax or make a floating acorn cap candle.  So many different recipes and ideas to explore.

She even included stories of people using bee venom.  I’d heard about using bee venom before but never really looked into it. It’s been used in China for more than 2000 years. You can also use bee venom to reduce allergic reactions! 

All in all it’s a very helpful book.   For the budding apiarist this book would be helpful in explaining the benefits of bee keeping.  For the person just wanting to know more about the benefits of bees, this book provides it all!  It’s a wonderfully helpful book indeed.  🙂
About the Author:  Stephanie Bruneau is a beekeeper, herbalist, and artist. She runs
The Benevolent Bee, a small business selling honey, beeswax candles,
herbal body care products, and other handcrafted and hive-derived items.
At the Benevolent Bee “Teaching Apiary” Stephanie observes, learns, and
teaches about bees and bee behavior to students of all ages.

The Benevolent Bee: Capture the bounty of the Hive through Science, History, Home Remedies and Craft.
Stephanie Bruneau
Quarry Books
160 books
Oversized trade paperback

Reviewed for: Quarto Group

Where can you find The Benevolent Bee?

Amazon.ca: The Benevolent Bee: Capture the Bounty of the Hive through Science, History, Home Remedies and Craft – Includes recipes and techniques for honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, and bee venom

Amazon.com: The Benevolent Bee: Capture the bounty of the hive through science, history, home remedies and craft. 

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This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: 50 Natural Wonders to Blow Your Mind

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Want to learn more about this wonderful world that we live in?   50 Natural Wonders to Blow your Mind is a book that will do that.  Pictures and words to delight and educate.  Learn more about this world than you thought you would.  🙂

 So let me tell you about this little gem.

Starting at the back of the book is a list of each of the continents (and one ocean) that lists each of the natural wonders discussed.   I like that feature!   Means if I am doing a continent study I can easily pull up the relevant pictures and stories.

Each natural wonder is a two page layout.

The writing, always appears on the left, and is informative with a sense of humour at times.   Like if you want to visit cave, go through all the trouble of trying to get there, only to discover you aren’t allowed in.  🙂   Providing just enough information to whet your appetite for more.

Each image portrayed shows some aspect of the wonder discussed.  Giving a glimpse into the beauty to be discovered. 

It introduced me to Spotted Lake in British Columbia.

The book itself is divided into six sections

  • beach idyll
  • deep down
  • mountainous wonders
  • mystical and mythical
  • national parks
  • strange landscapes

My Thoughts:
 This is an interesting small book geared to introduce people to natural wonders throughout the world.  I was disappointed it didn’t feature more of the natural wonders of Canada.  🙂   But that’s the selfish national pride part of me talking.  I was delighted to find examples of natural wonders from all the different continents.   A small, but fascinating book.  I can easily see giving this to my lad next year and saying..pick one, learn more, give me a report. 

50 Natural Wonders to Blow Your Mind
Kayla Ryan
Series: 50 to Blow Your Mind
Lonely Planet
Pages: 128
Age: 7 and up
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Where can I find it?
Amazon.ca: Lonely Planet 50 Natural Wonders To Blow Your Mind 1st Ed.

Amazon.com:  50 Natural Wonders To Blow Your Mind (Lonely Planet)

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This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Art Book: My Name is Georgia

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YAY!!!   One of my favourite people is doing a guest post for me today.   Lori is going to tell you about a neat book and interesting person.
One of my favorite artists is Georgia O’Keefe. Partly because she
is New Mexican, partly because her artwork is just stunning, partly
because she is just an interesting person. Whatever way you look at it,
Georgia O’Keefe is worth learning a bit about. That is why, when I was
able to visit the Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, NM, I picked up a
children’s biography about her to share with the girls.

My Name Is Georgia a portrait by Jeanette Winter
This
is a lovely children’s book that takes us from Georgia’s childhood
through to her old age. She moved from her Wisconsin childhood home to
Chicago, New York, Texas, and New Mexico. She was always searching for
inspiration and she found it in nature.

This
is not a difficult book to read but it is an inspiring one. Reach for
your desires – this is the inspiration from Georgia O’Keefe. And if it
encourages you to read more about her and all that she did for the art
movement and community, well, that’s all the better.
This book is published by Voyager Books and was purchased at the Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, NM.

If you were inspired to learn more about Georgia O’Keefe perhaps this video might help.

You can find Lori blogging at At Home where life happens.  You need to visit her seriously, she writes well and has a good heart. 🙂

Where can you find this delightful book?

Amazon.ca – My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter

Amazon.com – My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Review: Car Chapel Bride

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 Did you know that there used to be ministers who would live in work in cars on trains?  I had briefly heard of this ministry from days gone by and found myself intrigued by the notion.   When NutsAboutBooks had the Chapel Car Bride up for review I snatched it up so I could learn more about this ministry.

The story brings us Hope and her father who live in car provided freely for them by the railroad.   They went wherever the train went, conducting ministry wherever they were placed.  Sometimes the board overseeing their ministry would give them a specific place to set up shop and in this particular story they were told to minister in a mining community of Finch, West Virginia.   This is Hope’s first journey with her minister father and she’s finding the experience interesting, exciting and sometimes frightening.  She enjoys conducting the children’s ministry while her father teaches the adults.

When an unexpected blessing of Sunday school materials lands in their laps it gives them an opportunity to broaden their ministry outreach, unbeknownst to them that their helper was being less than honest with them.    What will happen as a result?  Well…you’ll have to read the book yourself.  🙂

This video will give you a good idea of the space that Hope and her dad lived in.

My thoughts?
I’ve grown tired of most romance type books, finding the stories simplistic and annoying.  🙂   BUT this book I enjoyed.  I liked learning about the pros and cons of railroad ministry, seeing how God used materials to strengthen bonds between people, and even seeing how the problems in the book were resolved.    If you like reading light romances that broaden your horizons, this book is definitely for you.  🙂  

I got a chance to learn more about a little known piece of history from the early 1900’s, the characters were well-developed and I wanted to kick one of them in the seat of the pants.. my that lad needed to grow up a bit and stop being a selfish git.   The ending was tidy and quick, fairly typical I find for this type of literature.   All in all, well worth a read.  🙂

For a brief look into the overall ministry of the chapel car ministry you may find this video helpful.

For additional reading: 
Pine Chapel Car. 
Chapel Car Emmanuel.

 The Chapel Car Bride
Judith Miller
Baker Books
341 pages
Soft cover
Christian historical romance

Reviewed for: Nuts About Books.

Where to buy:

Amazon.ca – The Chapel Car Bride

 Amazon.com – The Chapel Car Bride

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an
affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn
fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Review:The Imperfect Disciple

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 The other day the lad and I were talking about how much I enjoyed this book and how that would make it a hard book to review.   He didn’t understand how that could be.   I said “well, if I don’t like the book I can say this is what I didn’t like and this is why.   But when I have a book that I really enjoy I just want to tell people “READ IT, It’s GOOD”.”   

So the Imperfect Disciple by Jared C. Wilson.. READ IT, IT’s GOOD!.  🙂

Okay, so maybe I can’t tell you to just go read it because it’s a good book, perhaps I need to tell you why I loved (yes LOVED) this book so much.

1. Jared writes like my hubby preaches.  He breaks down points to make them easily understood.  Uses scripture well, and within contest.  He shows his heart.

2. God’s grace is clearly shown throughout the book.  How God knows us SO well and yet still calls us his own.

3. My heart was broken and touched.  I wept, I laughed, I talked about different points with my lad.  It was a book that compelled me to stop and THINK about what I was being taught, and how I could let that change my life and my heart.  I intend to keep this book and read it again and to have my lad read it next year.  

4. I want to have more copies of it so I can share it everyone I think who would possibly read it. I want their lives to be impacted by the simple, yet profound truths locked within the pages of this book.

5. This is not a how-to book.   It’s not “make sure you read your bible every day in the morning, and pray eight times a day”.  It’s a  “can you see what it means to behold God, to really BEHOLD him (not just look or see but to behold.. it’s a different connotation)”, “let me point out the advantages and disadvantages of Christian fellowship”.   It’s real life and tough and not always easy, but God’s heart and love are always held forth as a source of strength, comfort and encouragement.

6. The writing style is casual, with humour and sarcasm used freely.   Because his style is casual, it makes me more apt to listen to his words cause it’s like talking with a brother or a mentor.  So you listen and want to talk back and think about what is said. 

7. Speaks straight into the heart of the Christian who struggles with their imperfections and struggles to be a good disciple of Christ.  Who desperately wants to walk in the way of the Lord but finds themselves stumbling, more oft then not, over their own two feet.   THIS IS a book for ME.  I stumble and fall and get up again, and this book left me feeling so encouraged and beloved of the Lord.

So what do you get in the book. 
The introduction.. YES.. read this too!
1. Sin and the art of soul maintenance
2.  Good News for Losers
3. Staring at the Glory until you see it
4. The Rhythm of listening
5. The Rhythm of Spilling your guts
6. The Revolution will not be instagrammed
7. The Nine Irrefutable laws of fellowship
8. Will the real me please stand up?
9. Does Grace Go all the way down?
10. Lurv Wins.
AND don’t forget to read the conclusion.

The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get their Act together
Jared C. Wilson
Baker Books
234 Pages
softcover, slightly larger book 8 by 6 approximately

Reviewed for: Nuts about Books

Where can you find it?  (cause you really need to get it)

Amazon.ca – The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together

Amazon.com – The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/