Paul A. Barra
Autor de Houghton Mifflin Science California: Above Level Independent Book Unit F Level 6
Obras de Paul A. Barra
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Conocimiento común
- Biografía breve
- Paul A. Barra, a former naval officer who was decorated for his work on the rivers of the Mekong Delta, including Republic of Vietnam medals, the Bronze Star with Combat “V” and the Combat Action Ribbon, worked as a reporter and chemistry teacher after the war. He was the senior staff writer for the Diocese of Charleston, the director of religious education at a Charleston parish and an award-winning freelance magazine writer who graduated with a BS from Niagara University and an MS from Loyola University of New Orleans. Barra was Teacher-of-the-Year at Greenwood District 52 and at St. Joseph’s Catholic School before becoming a full-time novelist.
His previous publications include four science readers with Houghton-Mifflin (2006); the true story of a Catholic high school that succeeded despite diocesan opposition, St. Joe’s Remarkable Journey (Tumblar House, 2010); a juvenile adventure called The Secret of Maggie’s Swamp (Brownridge Publishing, 2012); and the mysteries A Death in the Hills (Argus Books, 2014), Astoria Nights (Black Opal Books, 2017), and Death of a Sacristan; a Rebel Bishop Mystery (Black Opal Books, 2018). The Permanent Press will release his hardcover thriller Westfarrow Island in early 2019.
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THE SECRET OF MAGGIE'S SWAMP by Paul A. Barra is a wonderful Juvenile fiction/mystery book for ages 8-12 set in Ryun's Gap,North Carolina. What an adventure young Penny,who is eleven and Howie are in for. With an escaped conflict,a missing $500,000 from a bank robbery,a crazed mad man,a missing rifle,and stolen food,Penny and Howie set out of solve the mystery. I am from rural North Carolina and "The Secret of Maggie's Swamp" felt very realistic to me. A wonderful story sure to capture young readers. Received for an honest review from the publisher.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: SWEET(JUVENILE)
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews… (más)
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: SWEET(JUVENILE)
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews… (más)
Penny Andrew's has what she feels is a gift from God...or premonitions. She don't know what is going to happen, could be something good, or bad.
When mysterious things start happening in her small rural farm area, Ryun's Gap, NC. Penny who is eleven, and full of curiosity, decides to investigate. She has a good friend, Howie, and they set off with Penny's families horses to investigate.
There is a mystery of an escaped convict, and most of all $500,000.
The convict is made human and not scary, and the children learn compassion. Children will learn that sometimes people destroy other people's property for greed, but they also learn that later they rally around the family.
This would be a great read for middle school children, there are some good lessons here...Penny traveling all alone by bus without her parents. Loved the parents reaction, and how they handled her.
Maggie's Swamp is a rather slow read, and left me with some unanswered questions.
I received this book through Pump Your Book Virtual Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.… (más)
When mysterious things start happening in her small rural farm area, Ryun's Gap, NC. Penny who is eleven, and full of curiosity, decides to investigate. She has a good friend, Howie, and they set off with Penny's families horses to investigate.
There is a mystery of an escaped convict, and most of all $500,000.
The convict is made human and not scary, and the children learn compassion. Children will learn that sometimes people destroy other people's property for greed, but they also learn that later they rally around the family.
This would be a great read for middle school children, there are some good lessons here...Penny traveling all alone by bus without her parents. Loved the parents reaction, and how they handled her.
Maggie's Swamp is a rather slow read, and left me with some unanswered questions.
I received this book through Pump Your Book Virtual Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.… (más)
The Secret of Maggie's Swamp left me with quite a few feelings after I finished reading it this evening. When I first began reading this and realized how slow the book was going to be I truly thought I wasn't going to like this book ~ but as the story continued, the intrigue built and the mystery of where $500,000 cash went I found I connected with each of the characters in the book & I ended up loving it.
Maggie's Swamp reminds me a LOT of To Kill a Mockingbird (which I hated) - the story is based in the South, it's very slow and the language in the book are what made me connect the two books. While Mockingbird deals with racism in the 1960's South, this book is set in the 1980's (although as I read I thought it seemed more like the mid 70's) and it deals with someone who is accused and sentenced for a crime he didn't commit. Penny decides to solve the mystery and help this man who has lost his freedom, his family and respect due to one bad decision.
This is an outstanding book & would make a great read for a teen book club or for family discussions in the evening during read aloud sessions. The only thing missing from the book is a series of discussion questions. (I really wish I had been able to feature this book during our Middle Grade Summer Book Club - it would be great for guys or girls.)
Parents Note: This book references the Main Characters "Gift". Penny has the ability to "sense" things. She isn't fully aware yet what her true gift is and her mother is supportive but doesn't make a big deal of it. It seems like she is supposed to be Psychic - or at least has some sort of "sixth sense". The author does show how Penny "opens her mind" to let the gift happen but that is really about it.
It's an exciting read for children ages 8 through 12. Available in bookstores, on Amazon.com and from Brownridge Publishing.
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book to read and review on CCB through the Pump Up Your Book Blogger Program. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands.… (más)
Maggie's Swamp reminds me a LOT of To Kill a Mockingbird (which I hated) - the story is based in the South, it's very slow and the language in the book are what made me connect the two books. While Mockingbird deals with racism in the 1960's South, this book is set in the 1980's (although as I read I thought it seemed more like the mid 70's) and it deals with someone who is accused and sentenced for a crime he didn't commit. Penny decides to solve the mystery and help this man who has lost his freedom, his family and respect due to one bad decision.
This is an outstanding book & would make a great read for a teen book club or for family discussions in the evening during read aloud sessions. The only thing missing from the book is a series of discussion questions. (I really wish I had been able to feature this book during our Middle Grade Summer Book Club - it would be great for guys or girls.)
Parents Note: This book references the Main Characters "Gift". Penny has the ability to "sense" things. She isn't fully aware yet what her true gift is and her mother is supportive but doesn't make a big deal of it. It seems like she is supposed to be Psychic - or at least has some sort of "sixth sense". The author does show how Penny "opens her mind" to let the gift happen but that is really about it.
It's an exciting read for children ages 8 through 12. Available in bookstores, on Amazon.com and from Brownridge Publishing.
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book to read and review on CCB through the Pump Up Your Book Blogger Program. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands.… (más)
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- Obras
- 6
- También por
- 1
- Miembros
- 18
- Popularidad
- #630,789
- Valoración
- 3.7
- Reseñas
- 4
- ISBNs
- 9
Tagliabue inspires loyalty in those on the right side of the law, while his strength and skills might worry those who work against him. His own loyalties stretch in directions both secret and revealed as the story progresses. And those worlds of his separate trials just might become one.
Westfarrow Island’s tale is told, as expected, in third person, past tense. But occasional first-person chapters interject a very different voice—a voice that’s become very important to the protagonist, and one that knows the gentle art of balance. Agnes Ann grounds a novel that could be just high-seas, high-stakes adventure, bringing it into a different world, of horses, betting stakes, and ultimately even romance. As she divides and unites the events, the novel becomes more than the sum of its tales, and the characters more than their script, promising their fiction may not yet be over when the final page is turned. It’s a promise I hope the author keeps.
Disclosure: I was given a preview edition by the publisher and I offer my honest review.… (más)