Grisly Grisell begins with a bang, in fact, an explosion. Unfortunately, the result is more than a loud noise. Set in medieval England, during the War of the Roses (the reigns of Kings Henry V and Henry VI), the children of the castle are curiously investigating a keg when, to their horror, they discover that it contains gunpowder. The devastating result is a seriously wounded little girl, who is brutally scarred for life. How she, as well as others, deals with this devastating disfigurement affects much of the rest of the story. Can others see behind the ugly scars into the beauty of another's soul?

Grisly Grisell is one of the newly reprinted titles from Lepanto Press' Knights and Ladies series. It is a tale of adventure and good romance. Patience, perseverance and kindness are strong and noble virtues of Grisell, which endear her to others, including the reader.

What sets this book apart from others are the Catholic overtones. For example, Grisell has a positive experience growing up in a convent. In fact, she was hoping to be a nun, when her lack of a dowry and an unsympathetic Abbess (of course she is Spanish and this is British historical fiction) prevented it. Although the Catholic Church is presented, overall, very positively, this particular incident, when the Pope appoints a greedy relative to take over the convent, may warrant some discussion to clarify that there have been some terrible Popes in history, but that the Holy Spirit is still with the Catholic Church. Even though Grisell is prevented from becoming a nun, she is not embittered by the incident against the Church. She patiently accepts it as a cross to bear.

Although the story is fast paced and of interest to older readers (Ages 13-up), it could be read aloud to a younger audience. My only difficulty with the story is that it sometimes was confusing to know, in the larger scheme of the War, who was on whose side. Even if the reader is somewhat muddled, the story does eventually get worked out and the theme within the story carries the reader to the end.

Hans Brinker is a story designed to bring children of the 19th century (from around the world) an understanding and appreciation of the culture, traditions and history of Holland. The story focuses on the Brinker family. Ten years before the story begins, the father was seriously injured working on the dikes (which keep the water out of the reclaimed land of Holland), leaving him with the intelligence of a small child. Mrs. Brinker struggles to meet ends while remaining faithful to her husband's wish to never sell a watch he had given her. The two children, Hans and Gretel, are shunned by many at school for their shabby clothing. Meanwhile the story develops with a number of Hans' schoolmates who take a skating trip along the frozen canals through several important Dutch cities. The boys visit various churches and museums, allowing the reader to be impressed by many interesting tidbits from Holland's history. In the end, Mrs. Brinker and her family's perseverance and faithfulness is greatly rewarded. A heartwarming classic tale and a great read-aloud for the family.

The world claims to have the answers, but what are they? Please yourself, answer to no one, claim your truth, reject any close-minded or intolerant positions, be tolerant and diverse and accepting of other truths, whatever they are, except if they are intolerant.

If these are the answers, what are the questions?

When young people ask themselves:

• Who am I?
• What do I want out of life?
• Why is everything so complicated?
• Where will I find true happiness? and
• How do I choose right from wrong in a world filled with so many different answers?

they want the truth, even if it is challenging.

Amy Welborn has written here.now. as a guide book for today's young people, Catholic and Christian. Welborn's style is light, breezy, funny and pointed: the truth is found in the Catholic Church, and if you don't understand why, it's simple: Because Jesus told us so.

She continuously rejects answers such as, "because there is a rule that says..." or "because the Church said so." Welborn reminds us that it's not about "have to" (as in "I have to go to Mass today", or "will I have to confess this sin?") She continues to bring us back to the thought that if we want to have a relationship with God, we can do it best by getting to know His Son, Jesus, and we figure out Jesus best by reading the Bible, going to Church, and receiving the sacraments. It's that simple.

I was prepared to find this book too simplistic, too small. It is a very thin book, only 118 pages with short paragraphs and an easy-to-read type face. However, I found myself totally absorbed in it, able to quickly understand it, and even came away from it with some easier ways to talk about the faith with my relatives and friends.

I think this book would be good for older teens ("mature" 14 or 15 and up, due to the chapter on morals) and young adults to read as an overview of our faith.

This would be a great gift for a confirmand, a fallen-away Catholic, a lukewarm relative, or any person who needs to figure out how to be a mature, adult Catholic in this Church. It is perfect for anyone who might not read something more in depth. I think this book serves a great purpose in being a short and brief but thorough description of the good life: life as a Catholic in full communion with Jesus though his church.