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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Missing Red Envelopes is a children’s chapter book designed for kids between the ages of seven to twelve years of age. It tells the story of young Asian American sisters Weina and Lorie who live in New York City. The sisters set out to take part in the Lunar New Year celebrations but end up trying to solve a mystery. A special part of the celebrations involves collecting red envelopes that contain either chocolate coins or money. Younger sister Weina asks if she can be the keeper of the red envelopes and promises to keep them safe. She is upset when she discovers the envelopes are missing and she must retrace their steps throughout the day to see if she can solve the mystery of where the envelopes went. This book gives a fun and informative description of Asian American culture and traditions that takes place during the Lunar New Year. From the foods they eat, the parade, Chinese Dragons, the fireworks, the importance of family, and that wearing red means luck. The illustrations add an extra element to the story which help to bring the story to life. This book offers children the opportunity to learn about another culture while also learning about problem solving and critical thinking.

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Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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saving the gingerbread housesaving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hansel and Gretel are on a picnic in the woods with their dad when they hear a tapping sound coming from nearby. Their dad tells them not to go far because there is a witch living in the woods nearby. He goes on to explain to Hansel and Gretel that the witch wants to enter the most beautiful house contest. Hansel and Gretel go off to explore where the sound is coming from and discover that it is only from a woodpecker. They try to return back to their picnic but now they are lost. As they wander through the woods, they stumble upon a gingerbread house with animals eating it. When they decide to start nibbling on the gingerbread house as well an old lady comes out and tells them to stop. Have the children ruined her chance to have the most beautiful house?

This was a cute, toned down version of Hansel and Gretel and I really enjoyed it. I loved that the children were on a picnic in the woods with their dad and exploring nature. It was definitely not as scary as the version I recall hearing as a child. The characters were wholesome and both Hansel and Gretel were typical, inquisitive children who needed to discover for themselves where a strange sound was coming from. The witch in this tale was only wanting to be rewarded for her hard work of making her house beautiful. Another fantastic story by this author with beautiful illustrations that really bring the story to life.

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Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 3) by Byrd Nash – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #3)Spirit Guide by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spirit Guide is Book 3 in the Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Series. Madame Elinor Chalamet is approached by the Duke de Archambeau, Tristan Fontaine, to help a nobleman find his missing daughter. This time Madame Chalamet has more help than she can handle with the nobleman, Tristan, and an annoying apprentice. The nobleman seems to be gruff and hard to deal with. Tristan instructs Elinor to be careful and insists on her not investigating the case alone. Madame Chalamet’s young apprentice only adds extra stress because she seems reluctant to follow instructions. Matters only intensify when their investigation leads Elinor to her beloved Morpheus Society. Now she must determine if the Society is involved and if so, to what extent.

Book three follows with the relationship between Madame Elinor Chalamet and the Duke de Archambeau, Tristan Fontaine so I recommend reading the first two books. Their relationship is a bit complicated and it seems that there was a spark between them that started when they first met. Yet, neither Elinor nor Tristan seems to know what exactly their relationship is or if it will become more than what it is. Elinor is frustrated because Tristan seems to be attracted to her one minute but then practically shuns her the next. Their relationship started to unfold a bit more in this story and Tristan showed Elinor that he cared through his actions and wanting her to stay safe.

The characters are wonderful and it is easy to root for them. Elinor Chalamet is both a fantastic medium and detective. She is smart, strong, feisty, determined, headstrong, and hits the scariest of challenges head on. Tristan Fontaine is charismatic yet seems aloof and almost comes across as cold at first. In this story his character developed a bit more and we were able to see that his attitude and behavior are more like coping mechanisms. His heart has been scarred from a tragedy in his past and he is still trying to work through the demons of that painful past. Madame Chalamet’s new apprentice, Twyla, seems like a bumbling little twit who has no desire to listen to anyone and is determined to do things her own way. As the story unfolds it becomes clear that she has talents that she has kept well hidden out of fear of the trouble it may cause her. Those hidden talents come in handy for Elinor in this investigation.

I really enjoyed this storyline and the intensified paranormal aspect with the realms between the living and the dead. The involvement of the Morpheus Society was an intriguing twist to the story that added an extra layer of intensity and a layer of possible corruption from within the Society. The storyline kept me hooked to the end and contained a few twists and turns that kept me reading to the end. I highly recommend!

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