Rangers Apprentice, Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan; 2006; Random House Australia, Milsons Point, NSW; 327 pages; j Flangan/1-74166-082-3; 2/27-2/28

Another Enemy, another kidnapping, a reunion, a new alliance, a traitor, two or three arguments, Will, Evalynn and Horace come of age and we find out more about Halt’s past. The Skandians are invaded by the Temujai and Will, Halt, Horace and Evalynn help the Skandians as they battle the Temujai. After the war is over the Araluans are able to return home to a joyous homecoming. The biggest problem with books this good is you read them so fast, then you have to wait so long for the next effort from the author. RRRR

Rangers’ Apprentice, The Icebound Land by John Flanagan; 2005; Random House Australia, Milsons Point, NSW; 307 pages; 2/26-2/27

There are five books out in this series, however only two of them are available in U.S. editions. Luckily Zach and Amanda Banker have purchased Books 3, 4 and 5 from Australia, also luckily they agreed to share them with me.

When last we saw Will and Halt, Halt was watching as Will and Evalynn were taken captive by the Skandian wolfship captain Erak. Halt swears to rescue Will and Evalynn, but the King will not release him from his service in the Rangers. So Halt takes creative measures to go after Will, and Horace accompanies him. The focus of the story is more on Evalynn, Halt and Horace than Will with him playing a minor role in the story. Another gripping adventure, I am looking forward to the rest of the books in the series. RRRR

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson; 2004; Disney Editions, New York; 451 pages; j Barry/078685445-6; 2/23-2/26

As the Wasp and the NeverLand sail with a group of 5 orphan boys for the kingdom of Rundoon, they carry a valuable treasure. Little do they know that the notorious pirate Black Stache is following them knowing about the treasure. Mister Grin, savages and the Ladies all figure prominently in this prequel to the story of Peter Pan and the lost boys. Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson have crafted a story that begins to explain why things are the way they are in NeverLand and why the pirate hates Pan so. I am looking forward to the other two prequels. RRRR

The Creation of Captain America by Thomas Forget; 2007; The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., New York; 741.5973 F721c/1-4042-0766-X; 2/22-2/23

This is the story of how my favorite hero, Captain America, came to be. Not the story in the comics but how Jacob Kurtzberg and Joe Simon came to create the character. Jacob Kurtzberg changed his name to Jack Kirby and became one of the industries greatest artist. Captain America actually started fighting the Axis a full year before the United States entered the war. The first issue was on newsstands in December 1940. The book details the sales and tribulations of Captain America, an interesting tidbit of history, for those few strange ones who want to know as much as possible about a subject. RRR

Death Match by Lincoln Child; 2004; Doubleday, New York; 356 pages; Fiction Child/0-385-50670-8; 2/21-2/22

Eden Incorporated has matched 1000s’ of couples and even come up with 6 super couples, those who are deemed to be 100% compatible. The trouble begins when the first super couple is found dead of an apparent suicide-murder. Eden calls in former FBI agent Christopher Lash to investigate and he can find no real indication of causation for suicide. As he investigates further, it seems that he is the prime suspect. A good thriller until the twist of who is actually causing the killings. The sentient computer who is jealous has been done way too many times. RRr