I have read RL Stine's new book, Red Rain.  It is an adult novel of horror.  If you loved Stine as a youth with Goosebumps, this should terify you as well.  

     My library receives advanced copies of upcoming books.  I was lucky enough to read a copy of The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury.  Few editorial mistakes were noticed.: page 60 has "bigat" which should be big at and page 160 has "theyever" which should be they ever.  Maybe they will catch it before print time.
     The story is a great Christmas miracle story. The plot so typical of our times.  She brought to light the great gulf between wealth and poverty.  The struggles with the economy and the natural disasters that are destroying so many lives.
However, she didn't seem to have any scripture references in this one! One that kept coming to my mind while I read was 1Corinthians 10:24; Let no man seek his own but every man another 's wealth.  Maybe she could have used it somewhere with one of her characters.  Even if it wasn't the main ones.
    Overall, the story was true Karen Kingsbury.

I have finally found an author my 3rd grader will read!  It came after many searches.  We went through vampires, fairies, witches, all kinds of fantasy, even graphic novels before we hit this one.  It is one that has been around a few years. Even one she said no to several times.  Then I checked one out from the library with the only requirement being at least 100 pages.   Since she has become a moody little girl, I thought the title was appropriate!
Judy Moody Was in a Mood Not a Good Mood a Bad Mood by Megan McDonald.  She had even watched the movie and didn't think she would like the books.  But low and behold, we hit pay dirt! She can not put the down.  Even finished one in a day.  Keep them coming Megan McDonald.  I finally have her reading like I want her, a book a day.