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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Big Bend in Books
Jun 25, 2025
Finding Crime in the Vastness of Big Bend
A reporter has gone missing in Big Bend down in Texas, and Jack is asked to help find him. However, when Jack arrives, he finds some auditors have arrived to monitor everything going on in the park. And when out searching for the reporter, Jack finds someone else out there. The results of that encounter are tragic. What is happening in the vastness of this park’s wilderness?
It is always nice to revisit Jack and the supporting characters we’ve met along the way. Yes, Ev is involved as well. There is a plot point that will be hard for fans of the series. Overall, the plot bites off a bit too much and so a few of the connections feel forced and rushed. Likewise, a few of the minor players fade into the background and are hard to keep straight. The writing is still magical, and I love how the location came to life. I’m hoping we get more books with Jack soon.
It is always nice to revisit Jack and the supporting characters we’ve met along the way. Yes, Ev is involved as well. There is a plot point that will be hard for fans of the series. Overall, the plot bites off a bit too much and so a few of the connections feel forced and rushed. Likewise, a few of the minor players fade into the background and are hard to keep straight. The writing is still magical, and I love how the location came to life. I’m hoping we get more books with Jack soon.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion*
I have read the majority of Sarah Crossan’s work so picking this up was a ‘no brainer’.
Edward Moon was forced to sign a confession to a crime he never committed. Moonrise is told from Joseph Moon’s perspective some 10 years later as his brother has had his date set for his execution.
Edward, Angela and Joseph didn’t have the best upbringing when they were kids, their mother was an alcoholic and neglected them. It was down to their aunt Karen to take the up the role of the parent but as a christian had very strict rules. When Edward was seventeen he left home, unable to tolerate the his aunts strict demands. His moment of freedom was short-lived as he gets incarcerated for the murder of a local policeman. 10 years on and Joseph is to make the journey to Texas to find out what really happened and to say his goodbyes as Edwards execution has been scheduled. Joseph moves in to a decrepit motel room and gets by doing chores for the local diner. His month-long stay in Texas is to get to know his brother again only to say goodbye.
This book was just OK, it deals with a topic that is not widely written about in YA books but I did prefer ‘One’ and ‘The weight of water’. In true Sarah Crossan fashion this book is written entirely in verse, it can be read as individual poems or as a story whatever your preference. This book was not as thought-provoking as her other books and whilst the topic is something that intrigues me, I felt it could have been more emotional and had more character development, the emotional side of things just wasn’t captured well in the writing and I think that’s what let it down for me. It’s probably my own fault, as I tend to go into these book with high expectations. I feel like capital punishment could have been addressed more and given the audience more awareness of executions.
Even though I thought this was only OK, I would still recommend trying it for several reasons, 1. the topic, 2. it’s written in verse. 3. Everyone else seemed to love it.
I rated this 3 out of 5 stars.
I have read the majority of Sarah Crossan’s work so picking this up was a ‘no brainer’.
Edward Moon was forced to sign a confession to a crime he never committed. Moonrise is told from Joseph Moon’s perspective some 10 years later as his brother has had his date set for his execution.
Edward, Angela and Joseph didn’t have the best upbringing when they were kids, their mother was an alcoholic and neglected them. It was down to their aunt Karen to take the up the role of the parent but as a christian had very strict rules. When Edward was seventeen he left home, unable to tolerate the his aunts strict demands. His moment of freedom was short-lived as he gets incarcerated for the murder of a local policeman. 10 years on and Joseph is to make the journey to Texas to find out what really happened and to say his goodbyes as Edwards execution has been scheduled. Joseph moves in to a decrepit motel room and gets by doing chores for the local diner. His month-long stay in Texas is to get to know his brother again only to say goodbye.
This book was just OK, it deals with a topic that is not widely written about in YA books but I did prefer ‘One’ and ‘The weight of water’. In true Sarah Crossan fashion this book is written entirely in verse, it can be read as individual poems or as a story whatever your preference. This book was not as thought-provoking as her other books and whilst the topic is something that intrigues me, I felt it could have been more emotional and had more character development, the emotional side of things just wasn’t captured well in the writing and I think that’s what let it down for me. It’s probably my own fault, as I tend to go into these book with high expectations. I feel like capital punishment could have been addressed more and given the audience more awareness of executions.
Even though I thought this was only OK, I would still recommend trying it for several reasons, 1. the topic, 2. it’s written in verse. 3. Everyone else seemed to love it.
I rated this 3 out of 5 stars.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated My All American (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The new film My All American is directed by Angelo Pizzo and released by
Clarius Entertainment. It stars Finn Wittrock as Freddie Steinmark,
Sarah Bolger as Linda Wheeler, Aaron Eckhart as Darrell Royal, Robin
Tunney as Gloria Steinmark, Michael Reilly Burke as Fred Steinmark, Rett
Terrell as Bobby Mitchell, and Juston Street as James Street.
Based on true events, and coinciding with the release of the recently
published biography, Freddie Steinmark: Faith, Family, Football, this
film is a heartwarming tale of the grit and determination that one boy
has from the time he is small all the way through college.
The determination to push through any obstacle, and any challenge thrown
his way was the hallmark of Freddie Steinmark and forever etched him
into the hearts of his fellow players, his coach Darrell K Royal, and
his family.
At only five feet nine inches tall, and 150 pounds, Freddie had to work
harder, practice longer, run faster and be altogether tougher than any
of his other team mates just to be noticed.
The movie follows Freddie through his career starting with pee-wee
football practice, to being drilled by his dad for extra practice after
his school day was done in high school, to tryouts for University of
Texas Longhorns. His high school sweetheart Linda Wheeler applies to and
is accepted at University of Texas and follows him to college.
I don’t generally like football. It annoys me that it takes so long for
the game to be played (hello…. its supposed to be four QUARTERS…. a
quarter is 25 minutes. So a game should be just over an hour and a
half…. right? Nope, it never ever is only an hour and a half long….)
HOWEVER, I really enjoyed watching this movie!
It was funny, it was inspiring, it was sad. It tugged on my heartstrings
and made me wonder how, exactly, a parent goes about raising a kid with
that much drive and “want to”.
It is completely family friendly and I will be making another trip to
the theatre to watch it with my 7 year old son, and my friends son who
is 8 and her daughter that is 6, as well.
The movie shares a great message and good lessons that all children
should learn.
The ending is sad, and might upset some younger children, but since it
is a true-to-life movie, it had to follow actual events.
Clarius Entertainment. It stars Finn Wittrock as Freddie Steinmark,
Sarah Bolger as Linda Wheeler, Aaron Eckhart as Darrell Royal, Robin
Tunney as Gloria Steinmark, Michael Reilly Burke as Fred Steinmark, Rett
Terrell as Bobby Mitchell, and Juston Street as James Street.
Based on true events, and coinciding with the release of the recently
published biography, Freddie Steinmark: Faith, Family, Football, this
film is a heartwarming tale of the grit and determination that one boy
has from the time he is small all the way through college.
The determination to push through any obstacle, and any challenge thrown
his way was the hallmark of Freddie Steinmark and forever etched him
into the hearts of his fellow players, his coach Darrell K Royal, and
his family.
At only five feet nine inches tall, and 150 pounds, Freddie had to work
harder, practice longer, run faster and be altogether tougher than any
of his other team mates just to be noticed.
The movie follows Freddie through his career starting with pee-wee
football practice, to being drilled by his dad for extra practice after
his school day was done in high school, to tryouts for University of
Texas Longhorns. His high school sweetheart Linda Wheeler applies to and
is accepted at University of Texas and follows him to college.
I don’t generally like football. It annoys me that it takes so long for
the game to be played (hello…. its supposed to be four QUARTERS…. a
quarter is 25 minutes. So a game should be just over an hour and a
half…. right? Nope, it never ever is only an hour and a half long….)
HOWEVER, I really enjoyed watching this movie!
It was funny, it was inspiring, it was sad. It tugged on my heartstrings
and made me wonder how, exactly, a parent goes about raising a kid with
that much drive and “want to”.
It is completely family friendly and I will be making another trip to
the theatre to watch it with my 7 year old son, and my friends son who
is 8 and her daughter that is 6, as well.
The movie shares a great message and good lessons that all children
should learn.
The ending is sad, and might upset some younger children, but since it
is a true-to-life movie, it had to follow actual events.
MaryAnn (14 KP) rated The Mending Of Lillian Cathleen (The Women of Rock Creek #2) in Books
Mar 5, 2019
It’s 1914. American women are demanding the vote. And the first flames of the Great War are
igniting Europe. But a battle of a different sort rages in Oklahoma. The thermometer registers one hundred six degrees, an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence even for the twenty-eighth day of July. But this is no ordinary day. The jury has reached a verdict. Lily fidgets in the old church pew. Her name has clotted into a by-word. Her blood is tainted. Can she right the wrongs? Or will her past forever define her? She eyes the judge. And the courtroom holds its breath.
My thoughts : This is an interesting story of a young woman struggling with her past. Her.
father beat her and now she is afraid for her brother. Lilly heads to Texas where a job awaits her, but God has other plans.
This is a good story. I like the mystery of the sea chest and reading the ancient journal Lilly`s mother left her.
What I saw in this story was a young woman find I ng her way in the world, and finding God. A story of love, and letting go of the past.
igniting Europe. But a battle of a different sort rages in Oklahoma. The thermometer registers one hundred six degrees, an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence even for the twenty-eighth day of July. But this is no ordinary day. The jury has reached a verdict. Lily fidgets in the old church pew. Her name has clotted into a by-word. Her blood is tainted. Can she right the wrongs? Or will her past forever define her? She eyes the judge. And the courtroom holds its breath.
My thoughts : This is an interesting story of a young woman struggling with her past. Her.
father beat her and now she is afraid for her brother. Lilly heads to Texas where a job awaits her, but God has other plans.
This is a good story. I like the mystery of the sea chest and reading the ancient journal Lilly`s mother left her.
What I saw in this story was a young woman find I ng her way in the world, and finding God. A story of love, and letting go of the past.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Mar 19, 2020
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