The Unwanteds: Island of Silence by Lisa McMann

406 pages

"The battle is over. The magical barrier between the dreary land of Quill and the fantastical world of Artime is gone. Now residents of both places are free to mingle, but tensions are high. The artistic warriors of Artime struggle to forgive those in Quill who condemned them to death, while the Quillens attempt to recover from the shock of Artime's existence, the loss of their leader, and the total collapse of their safe, orderly world.

Alex Stowe has recovered from his physical wounds since his death-defying role in Artime's victory, but his confidence is shattered. He battles self-doubt after Artime's beloved mage, Mr. Today, makes a stunning request, which is further complicated by the mysterious arrival of two silent orange-eyed teenagers. Meanwhile in Quill, Aaron is devastated by his fall from grace. Spurred by rage, Aaron devises a masterful plan of revenge that will return him to power...if no one gets in his way." -Back Cover

The first half of this book was just so-so for me. One of the things that I don't think is explained very well is why Aaron hates Alex so much. His vengeful attitude just doesn't seem grounded in anything significant before the battle at the end of book one. I think Aaron is the weakest character which is kind of a shame since he's the villain. The fact that this book is told almost totally from Alex's point of view doesn't help that. Aaron falls from grace and then in a matter of weeks, thanks in part to handing out stolen food to hungry Wanteds and Necessaries, begins his rise to power once again. Why adults would fear and trust a teenage boy who has no magical power is a bit strange. The adults seem to think he's the only one who can restore Quill...or maybe they're just biding their time. One thing I did like about Aaron's story is that he (and you) don't quite know who's on his side and who's playing him.

I did enjoy more of Mr. Today's back story. He restores the memories of the original founders of Quill and that creates an interesting dynamic. He sees a lot of potential in Alex and wants him to take over in part because of the twin connection that he and Aaron share, like Mr. Today and Justine did. But of course things happen before Alex fully commits and Mr. Today is able to share all of his knowledge because about midway through this book really picks up in intensity. Finally there was something to justify the "The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter" tagline. Meghan, Samheed, and Lani go off on an adventure that puts them in a lot of danger and leaves their future a bit uncertain. This is the typical middle series book in that it acts like a filler between the first and third. It of course leaves you with a bunch of loose ends which hopefully the third book will tie up in a satisfying way. It was hard to put down once things started to get exciting and thank goodness the third book comes on in September. My teenage daughter picked it up as soon as I was finished and she's loving it.

Seven Miracles That Saved America: Why They Matter and Why We Should Have Hope by Chris and Ted Stewart

294 pages

"'When the odds were stacked against us--and there have been many times when the great experiment we call America could have and should have failed--did God intervene to save us?'

That question, posed by authors Chris and Ted Stewart, is the foundation for this remarkable book. And the examples they cite provide compelling evidence that the hand of Providence has indeed preserved the United States of America on multiple occasions. Skillfully weaving story vignettes with historical explanations, they examine seven instances that illustrate God's protecting care:

• The unlikely discovery of America by Christopher Columbus
• How (and why) desperate English colonists were able to survive the 'starving time' at Jamestown
• The Battle of New York during the Revolutionary War
• The miraculous creation of the United States Constitution
• Abraham Lincoln's desperate prayer that turned the tide of the Civil War at Gettysburg
• How a series of extraordinary events changed the Battle of Midway during World War II
• The preservation of Ronald Reagan's life from an assassin's bullet, allowing him the time he needed to help extend freedom around the world

Never, at any of these critical junctures, was a positive outcome certain or even likely. Yet America prevailed. Why? 'No man is perfect,' writes the authors. 'And neither is any nation. Yet, despite our weakness, we are still, as Abraham Lincoln said, the best nation ever given to man. Despite our faults, this nation is still the last, best hope of earth.' In short, God still cares what happens here. This reassuring message is a bright light in a world that longs for such hope." -Dust Jacket

I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely a Christian book and those who believe differently may not find this book as inspiring as I did. Because I do believe that America is an exceptional land and is favored by God, it was wonderful to read these examples of why that's true. We are the "best nation ever given to man." That doesn't make us better than other people or nations, it just gives us the responsibility to promote freedom and democracy around the world and be an example to other nations. 

I particularly enjoyed the first five miracles mentioned as it's been awhile since I've studied American history. I was reminded of just how great our Founding Fathers and Abraham Lincoln were and I couldn't help but feel that even though this is a blessed land, its leaders struggled and struggled mightily before God intervened. It is my belief that God lets us struggle to teach us and mold us into who He needs us to be. If only all of our leaders could be men like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Despite all the negative things happening in our country there really is reason to have hope.