#NetGalley Book Review: Yang Warriors by Kao Kalia Yang

Oh boy - this is touching!

Yang Warriors
by Kao Kalia Yang

Illustrations by Billy Thao

Hardcover : 40 pages
Publisher : Univ Of Minnesota Press (April 13, 2021)
ISBN-13 : 978-1517907983
Reading level : 5 - 10 years
Grade level : Kindergarten - 5
Genre: Children, Immigration, Refugee
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Award-winning author Kao Kalia Yang delivers an inspiring tale of resourceful children confronting adversaries in a refugee camp.
After lunch the Yang warriors prepare for battle. They practice drills, balance rocks on their heads, wield magical swords from fallen branches. Led by ten-year-old Master Me (whose name means “little”), the ten cousins are ready to defend the family at all costs. After a week without fresh vegetables , the warriors embark on a dangerous mission to look for food, leaving the camp’s boundaries, knowing their punishment would be severe if they were caught by the guards.
In this inspiring picture book, fierce and determined children confront the hardships of Ban Vinai refugee camp, where the author lived as a child. Yang’s older sister, seven-year-old Dawb, was one of the story’s warriors, and her brave adventure unfolds here with all the suspense and excitement that held her five-year-old sister spellbound many years later. Accompanied by the evocative and rich cultural imagery of debut illustrator Billy Thao, the warriors’ secret mission shows what feats of compassion and courage children can perform, bringing more than foraged greens back to the younger children and to their elders. In this unforgiving place, with little to call their own, these children are the heroes, offering gifts of hope and belonging in a truly unforgettable way.

Review:
The Yang warriors are a group of young children in a refugee camp in Thailand. (Ban Vinai camp housed many highland people, known as Hmong, who fled communist rule in Laos from 1975 until 1992.) The conditions in the camp are hard and the families struggle to have enough food to sustain life. The guards are harsh and will punish those who challenge the boundaries of the camp.

The children gather in a quiet, unobtrusive group to meditate and train in practice drills, balancing rocks and wielding branch swords. The children seek to be prepared to act if and when needed to help their families and especially their younger siblings. Having heard of vegetables just beyond the camp, they plan a mission to sneak out and gather those precious greens for their families.

The story is told simply from the view of the author’s memories as a five-year-old seeing the bravery and compassion of her seven-year-old sister and their cousins. The story is poignant, gripping, and heart-wrenching. I found my breath hitching as I read of these sorrowful children. I found the closing message of resourcefulness and hope encouraging (but not enough). I think the message will have to be explained to children. The author's and illustrator's notes add to the work.

The illustrations are by a Hmong American who researched and achieved a style that fits beautifully and enhances the text. The gentle images use vibrant colors and a mystical touch. The story is appropriate to share with children, explaining the struggles of refugee families and what we might be able to do to help others. I plan to purchase the print book to share with my grandchildren.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Survive the Fall (EMP: Return of the Wild West Book 1) by Grace Hamilton

This is a post-apocalyptic story focused on one family in two locations.
Survive the Fall (EMP: Return of the Wild West Book 1)
by Grace Hamilton

ASIN : B08JH9PQ5W
Publication date : December 9, 2020
File size : 3025 KB
Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

Survival of the fittest becomes harsh reality in the blink of an eye. Greg Healy isn’t fooled. The hunting trip is merely a ploy contrived by his wife and mother to force Greg and his father to end their estrangement. Not even Greg’s teenage daughter or his father’s hunting buddies along for the ride will be enough of a buffer to heal the rift of long-standing resentments. But the helicopter has barely dropped them in the remote Canadian wilderness when they discover their new equipment is dead with no explanation. Now they’ll have to rely on each other and resort to Old West ingenuity to find their way home—before the hunter becomes the hunted.
For seventeen-year-old Darryl Healy, things aren’t much easier on his grandparents’ cattle ranch. Not when his highly intelligent and successful mother keeps hounding him about college applications. But college quickly loses its allure when the lights go out after a cyberattack. Frightening responsibilities fall squarely on Darryl’s unproven shoulders as a power-hungry politician is determined to confiscate the ranch’s resources—by any means necessary.
Danger and death await the Healy family as each group attempts to navigate this terrifying new post-apocalyptic world while the vast wilderness separates them. When deceit arises from within their ranks, they’ll face threats as lethal as the grizzly bears and mountain lions lurking in the shadows.
And in order to survive the nightmare, a deal with the devil might be their only saving grace.
Prepper survivalist author Grace Hamilton invites you to step into a post-apocalyptic, EMP-ravaged world filled with strong, resourceful characters, survivalist knowledge, and edge-of-your seat action.

Review:
Greg has agreed to go on a hunting trip with his father, Tuck, whom Greg tends to avoid due to their pattern of arguing. Greg is surprised by his teenage daughter’s enthusiasm for the trip. Emma is excited and has been studying to prepare to show her father and grandfather that she can be trusted in this environment. There are two other men along for the trip: Tuck’s best friend, Tommy, a rugged fellow, and Eustace, the brawny foreman of the pipeline company who is to serve as guide on the company land.

Greg is distressed when his satellite phone doesn’t work and the hunters soon realize none of their electronic equipment is working. When they see a fire in the distance three of the men make the hike to discover that the helicopter that dropped them off has crashed. Finally, they are realizing that something is very wrong and they are apparently stranded with minimal supplies and limited hope of rescue. As they agree to trek their way down the pipeline it is clear that there are secrets and hidden tensions that threaten the group as much as the stark wilderness with snakes and bears.

Meanwhile, back home, Greg’s son, Darryl, is struggling to complete his college applications while trying to help his grandmother and mother run the family ranch. When the power failed, none of the ranch hands showed up for work. Since the mechanical equipment isn’t working, the cows have to be milked by hand. Fences have to be repaired to control the herd and soon they realize that the fences need to be turned into a wall to protect against predators - wild animals and human thieves. Will these three be able to help their neighbors and protect their property against the powers in the local town who seek to take their resources, even at gunpoint?

I found this to be a fairly predictable EMP power loss, post-apocalyptic story. The author has presented dual, well-constructed plot lines with flawed – very human – characters. The story reads easily but I was disappointed by what I will call a lack of energy. The two threads of the story are adequately written technically and have some danger and intrigue. Still, both experiences seemed depressed to me. The story ends with a shoot-out and a trailing enemy who will no doubt make trouble in the next book.

It may just be that I wasn’t particularly gripped by any of the characters. I will recommend the book to fans of post-apocalyptic genre, and there are plenty of five-star reviews to encourage them to read this..

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet goals.

Sunday Post December 13, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 14, 2020

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)

What Are You Reading?, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I had two large commercial closings this week.  One was as planned and the other changed in nature in two days. It took a day to get the package changed and out and all worked out well.
My left eye did calm down but I think I am losing clarity in my eye.  My last visit two months ago the eye doctor did tell me that I was starting to get a cataract. He suggests that when it is time I should have laser surgery so I have that to look forward to. It will be very strange since I have been nearsighted all my life - I don't see the big E on the chart (actually, I only see a blurry white rectangle for the chart) without lenses. I can read and do close up needle work with the lenses off. That won't be available if I have my eyes 'fixed'.

The deer ate all the leaves off the satsuma (branches on the right) and knocked off the one fruit which hubby ate. The deer also got a lot of the leaves from the lemon towards the left.
Hubby needs to spray the area with deer repellent.

Our temps ranged from high 20s to mid 70s. We had a couple of foggy and rainy days and had to check each morning to dress accordingly.
This week the range shouldn't be as wide with lower highs and higher lows.

I enjoyed my reading and listening this week. I had variety with one audio, one ebook and one childrens' book. I posted five reviews and my usual memes. 
Countdown to finish challenges:
TBR -need to finish 5 and 3 are lined up this week. I am on track.
I'll have to see if I can find a title with "X" so I can finish the alphabet.
NetGalley - Completed!

I visited 15 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to THE BOOK DISCIPLE. Samantha has a nice looking blog, "genetic" love of reading and says "I have enjoyed discovering indie authors as well as the more ‘main streamed’ authors."

Don't forget- Audible is offering free children's titles during these days at home.
Audiobooks.com is also offering free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post December 6, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 7, 2020.

• NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Calvin the Christmas Tree by Stephen G. Bowling; Genre: Children, Christmas; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor Genre: Humorous Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• MBS November 2020 Reading List Wrap Up.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien; Genre: Children’s Folk Tales, Fairy Tale Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway December 11, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 12/17/2020.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Jingle Bell Pop by John Seabrook; Genre: Christmas, Music, Nonfiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: An Angel for Christmas by Heather Graham; Genre: Christmas, Mystery, Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #410 Comment Giveaway December 12, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 12/26/2020.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement December 13, 2020.

Finished Reading:
1. NetGalley App on Phone (NG2020)

Survive the Fall (EMP: Return of the Wild West Book 1)
by Grace Hamilton
This is a family focused post-apocalyptic story.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. NetGalley App on Phone (NG2020)

Yang Warriors
by Kao Kalia Yang
Oh boy - this is touching.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. NetGalley App on Phone (NG2020)

Megge of Bury Down
The Bury Down Chronicles, Book One
by Rebecca Kightlinger
Narrated by Jan Cramer
Megge is a complex character in this engaging story of good witches in the middle ages.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Pupcakes: A Christmas Novel
Written By: Annie England Noblin
Narrated By: Amy McFadden
Duration: 9 hours 59 minutes
I like the premise of this story.
Source: November 2019 Sale at Audiobooks.com $3.99.
Summary:
Sit! Stay! Speak! author Annie England Noblin’s novel takes one woman starting over, adds an aging pug named Teddy Roosevelt, and proves the power of a well-baked dog treat.
All she wants is a settled-down life.
What she gets is a dog—and a whole new normal . . .
There he stood in the doorway: overweight, depressed and nearly homeless—a pug named Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy was Brydie Benson’s latest problem, arriving on top of her messy divorce and sudden move. Brydie needed a place to start over, so this rent-free home seemed a great idea. She just never counted on Teddy, or his owner, the Germantown Retirement Village’s toughest customer, Pauline Neumann.
And because rent-free doesn’t mean bills-free, Brydie gets a night-shift job at a big-box grocery. Whoever guessed there were so many people who wanted baked goods after midnight?
Then, she gets an idea—why not combine her baking skills with her new-found dog knowledge? And so her store Pupcakes is born. Along with a new start comes a possible new love, in the form of Nathan Reid, a local doctor with a sassy Irish Wolfhound named Sasha. And as fall turns to winter, and then to Christmas, Brydie begins to realize that life is a little bit like learning a new recipe for puff pastry—it takes a few tries to get it just right!...

2. Kindle App on Phone (ebTBR)

Cold Feet: A Short Story for Christmas (Hand-Me-Downs Book 2)
by Meggan Haller
This looks sweet and will help towards finishing my TBR goal.
Source: December 2016 Free Kindle download.
"He saw the distinct shape of a hand carefully placing one more stocking alongside the others. Though Jakob was sure he saw it, at first he didn’t believe it was real. It took him a long time to figure out there was no Santa, and short of a miracle, he wouldn’t be quick to change his mind."
Another Christmas and nothing had changed for 5-year-old Jakob. Papa still had no job, the family still had no money, and Jakob still had the same pair of old, threadbare socks only now with holes in them. This was the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families, the Strumpfs included.
Year after year, Santa brought nothing for the Strumpfs but a hand-written promise that next Christmas would be better. Jakob’s older brothers and sisters believed Santa would keep his promise and bring them a gift this year—even Mama and Papa believed—but Jakob doubted. When a sensitive boy loses heart, his family must help him find it.
These days, Christmas may be a season of abundance, but this solemn tale introduces young readers to an era of struggle. A generation after Bern learned to believe in Santa in Light in the Snow, Jakob carries on the Strumpf tradition of turning hardships into happiness. With contemplative and compassionate prose, this remarkable story reminds us that where there is love, hope can flourish despite poverty.

3. Kindle App on Phone (ebTBR)

Thomas & the Christmas Orange: Storybook Advent Calendar Singles
by Lewis Brech
This is another TBR I have been meaning to read for years.
Source: August 2011 Free Kindle download.
From Storybook Advent Calendar
A charming story about giving and the simple things in life was inspired by a folktale about that orange that seems to appear in Christmas stockings each year. Thomas and his parents leave England in 1824. Tragedy strikes and despair and destitution follow, but warmth and love are returned from a simple orange. This is an instant classic and beloved by all who read it!

I'm keeping track of my Alphabet here as I finish the books. These are the letters that remain:
NETGALLEY:  H  M  U  X  Y and Z
AUDIO:             X 

December 13, 2020 - I continue enjoying reading first thing each morning, even this week while away.
I am still enjoying the devotions and readings with the One Year Bible plan through You Version App. I considered changing but this is the reading group that is closest to my husband's reading so we can sometimes discuss the same passages.
I am in the middle of a ten day Advent study: 10 Days of Christmas Truths to Live All Year.

I completed three books, posted five reviews and I continue to be up to date.
I added one NetGalley title and still have the three remaining titles from 2012-13.
I have two author titles in queue which will carry over to 2021. (Plus a few that I received from newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests.)
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I picked up one new NetGalley title this week but plan on more in the next few weeks.

I bought three titles at Chirp.
I am lining up my two Audible picks to get this week.
No free Kindle titles this week.
(Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I picked up one Audio NetGalley title (and have several on request and several READ I plan to add before year end).

The Salvage Crew
by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
Narrated by Nathan Fillion
Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Won

NONE

Purchased

I used one Audiobooks.com credit for these two titles:

Mistletoe Miracles
Written By: Jodi Thomas
Narrated By: Julia Gibson
Duration: 9 hours 52 minutes

The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas of Love Through the Generations
Written By: Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin Thomas, Becky Wade, Karen Witemeyer
Narrated By: Pilar Witherspoon, Liz Pearce, Stephanie Cozart, Emily Pike Stewart
Duration: 12 hours 53 minutes

And I bought three titles at Chrip for under $10.00.

What If It's True?
by Charles Martin
Narrated by Charles Martin
Run Time 9h 55min
$4.99

Armor
by John Steakley
Narrated by Tom Weiner
Run Time 13h 39min
$3.99

By Sea & Sky
by Antoine Bandele
Narrated by John Rogers
Run Time 9h 57min
$0.99

Free

No free Kindle title this week. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement December 13, 2020

Our church opened this morning's service with Joy to the World which was lovely-- I was singing along with the video streaming. :-)

Pastor asked us to share ONE thing we think about when we think of the Christmas story. Answers included: Jesus, angels, shepherds, manger, wise men, gifts, the star, watching.

Pastor shared his message "God Speaks". He speaks directly and indirectly, through signs and seasons. He is always there to speak but are we always ready to listen? We get ready for Christmas with hustle and bustle because there is a lot of preparation. Then we are glad and relax when it is over.That isn't the way it should be. Pastor noted that God made a lot of preparation to prepare the world for His son, Jesus.

Pastor shared some of the preparation parts described in Luke and Matthew.
Luke 1:11-38
Zechariah questions when the angel tells him that he and Elizabeth will have a child. They were up in years so it may have been pretty natural to question. However, keep in mind Zechariah was a priest. Gabriel reveals who he is and says 'because you questioned, you will not speak again until the child is born'.

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, the angel appeared to Mary. Mary is an innocent teenager and she naturally questions ‘how can this be?” Then she responds with acceptance: “May your word be fulfilled.”

Matthew 1:18-24
Joseph also hears from God. He was preparing to quietly set Mary aside until an angel appeared to him in a dream. Joseph did as the angel commanded and took Mary to be his wife. Joseph acted on his faith.

God went to great lengths to prepare the earth for Jesus to come. He spoke to ordinary people.

GOD SPEAKS TO ORDINARY PEOPLE ABOUT ORDINARY THINGS.
(I would add He speaks about extraordinary things too!)

God still speaks today. How do we listen?
1. GET QUIET. Turn off the noise around us – physical and eternal noise.
2. GO TO THE WORD. Weigh what we think He is saying against His written word.
(God gives grace by saying – ‘you didn’t fully listen or follow, but I can work with that.’)
3. ASK FOR COUNSEL. Seek input from mature Christ follower who will be honest with you.
4. GO BACK TO GOD.

We might follow obediently like Joseph or we might question innocently like Mary. We might even doubt like Zechariah. But we can return to God for clarity; to LISTEN for the details.

This song speaks of "God’s plan” Who Would have Dreamed.
(Perhaps they/we should have been listening better.)

Verses for today:
Luke 1:35-38 NIV
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Matthew 1:24-25 NIV
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Lord, help me to get quiet and help me listen to You - every day, every moment.

Sharing Beyond Books #410 Comment Giveaway December 12, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB and the last month of 2020!
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Last week Q#409: What is a book that you think every child should read??
Three people named Enid Blyton, two each comments for the Bible, Black Beauty, Winnie the Pooh, and Dr. Seuss. Other books or authors mentioned include Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and la comtesse de segur and Komey Chukovsky (think Russian Dr. Seuss).

The Winner from SBB #409 comments is #3 BN100 who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post. -- [11/16/19 I plan to add some review books this week and maybe some new Christmas and Love titles as soon as I locate the box I put them in. 11/28/20 I have added a box of new books for SBB and will list them in the next week or so. I have to try to cross off books that have already been awarded. ]

Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #410

(One Question.)

Nikki asks: If you had the power to make a fave book into a movie/tv series adaptation, what book would you choose and why??

We may have had this question before but maybe we have different suggestions now. Two series that popped into my mind are the Mercy Thompson series (provided they don't cheapen it like the Sookie Stackhouse series) or the Destoryermen series. I dont' watch Netflix but if I did I would like to see the Virgin River and Bridgerton series.

Image found at Pinterest by Bookbub.

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month, I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify them.
I forgot to say last month that the comments were provided by Bn100 who gets 1/2 book credit (for a full book now) and Fredamans who gets $2.50 credit.

Your turn to share. Nikki asks: If you had the power to make a fave book into a movie/tv series adaptation, what book would you choose and why??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday, December 26, 2020, at 5 PM central.