Scattergood

I read Scattergood by H.M. Bouwman after seeing it recommended on one of the children's book pages I follow on social media. The book description says, "Growing up a farm girl, Peggy’s life has never been particularly exciting. But a lot changes in 1941. Her friend Joe starts acting strange around her. The Quaker hostel nearby reopens to house Jewish refugees from Europe, including a handsome boy named Gunther and a troubled professor of nothing. And her cousin and best friend, Delia, is diagnosed with leukemia—and doesn’t even know it. Peggy has always been rational. She may not be able to understand poetry and speak in metaphors like Delia, but she has to believe she can find a way out of this mess, for both of them. There has to be a cure. And yet the more she tries to control, the more powerless she feels. She can’t make Gunther see her the way she sees him. She can’t help the Professor find his missing daughter. She’s tired of feeling young and naive, but growing up is proving even worse."

This was a really good read. I was super engaged in the story (enough that I had to return it to the library when it was overdue, so I went through the effort to put it on hold again and find my spot and continue reading). The book was heavy at times and had so many bad/sad/hard things happening that it was almost too much to bear. But things came around enough that I still loved the book. The characters were really real and complex, and I really loved Peggy. The book had me crying in the end (but I was sitting in public while my son had a class, so I had to keep it together) and just had some beautiful parts at the end. I really liked the part with Peggy and her mom where the mom said, "I think--I think it's okay to be mad at God....I think God can take our anger." Peggy responded, "I'm not mad at God....Not anymore....I don't believe in God." And her mom replied, "Well, I think God can take that, too."

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

North Woods

I read North Woods by Daniel Mason for book club. The book description says, "When two young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and nonhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to growing apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths an ancient mass grave—only to discover that the earth refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a sinister con man, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle: As the inhabitants confront the wonder and mystery around them, they begin to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive."

This was a unique read. I listened to a lot of it on audiobook and then switched over to the paper book for the last quarter or so when I finally had time to sit down and read. I thought it was a creative premise -- following one house and all the different people who live there over the years. There were a few disturbing stories/characters (especially Mary), and there was a kind of an interesting ending to the book. I found the book hard to follow at times since sometimes there were connections between residents and sometimes not, and I felt like I was losing track of things sometimes. I think this will be an interesting book to discuss at book club (especially the stories with Alice/Mary and Robert), though it wasn't really one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

Radiant

I don't even remember how I came across Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, but I put it on hold at the library. The book description says, "As school begins in 1963, Cooper Dale wrestles with what it means to 'shine' for a black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh. Set against the historic backdrop of the Birmingham church bombing, the Kennedy assassination, and Beatlemania, Radiant is a finely crafted novel in verse about race, class, faith, and finding your place in a loving family and a complicated world. Cooper’s primary concern is navigating fifth grade, where she faces both an extra-strict teacher and the bullying of Wade Carter, the only child of a well-to-do white family, whose home Cooper’s mother cleans for extra income. How can she shine when her mother works for the meanest boy in school? To make matters worse, Cooper quietly wishes she could be someone else."

I loved this book! It was a quick and engaging read, and I loved Cooper as a character. I loved that there was nothing overwhelmingly heavy in her life and instead she had deep empathy for someone else dealing with something heavy. (Just different than the plot of many books.) I thought the book had great messages and was just an uplifting read. I really enjoyed it.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

One Big Open Sky

I got One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome from the library after seeing it won both the Newbery honor and Coretta Scott King honor. The book description says, "1879, Mississippi. Young dreamer Lettie may have her head in the stars, but her body is on a covered wagon heading westward. Her father, Thomas, promises that Nebraska will be everything the family needs: an opportunity to claim the independence they’ve strived for over generations on their very own plot of land. But Thomas’ hopes—and mouth—are bigger than his ability to follow through. With few supplies and even less money, the only thing that feels certain is danger."

This was a great read. It was written in verse but was a slower read than the usual books I read in verse. I really loved Lettie as a character and especially loved when Philomena joined the story--really loved her. I also liked a character named Mr. Cole. I liked that this book covered a historical time period/situation I didn't really know much about--black pioneers moving west during the Reconstruction time period. The book had some heavy stuff without being too sad to enjoy/keep reading, and it included some good messages. I think it's a well-deserved Newbery honor.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Women

I read The Women by Kristin Hannah for my newest book club with the young friends at church. The book description says, "Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets―and becomes one of―the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost. But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam."

Wow! What a book! This book was so engaging, and by the end, I was exclaiming so many things (No! Oh my gosh! Oh no!) that Connor basically needed a play-by-play of the last third of the book haha. The book was so well written with well developed characters (those I loved and hated and some that were flawed and yet came around) and a solid story. I don't read enough historical fiction, and I don't think I've ever read anything from the Vietnam period so this was super eye-opening and enlightening. I learned a lot and would definitely be interested in reading more on the time period, especially about women during the Vietnam War. There were times toward the end chunk of this book that I couldn't see how the story could end well, but I was so satisfied with the ending and just found this a really great read. I was so inspired by Frankie and her journey. There is some bad language and some other adult stuff, so I'd definitely classify this as an adult book. I have heard of this author before but haven't read any of her other books but definitely will now. I think the one I've heard about the most is The Nightingale. 

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Hope in the Valley

I got Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins from the library after my sister recommended it. The book description says, "Twelve-year-old Indian-American Pandita Paul doesn't like change. She's not ready to start middle school and leave the comforts of childhood behind. Most of all, Pandita doesn't want to feel like she's leaving her mother, who died a few years ago, behind. After a falling out with her best friend, Pandita is planning to spend most of her summer break reading and writing in her favorite secret space: the abandoned but majestic mansion across the street. But then the unthinkable happens. The town announces that the old home will be bulldozed in favor of new―maybe affordable―housing. With her family on opposing sides of the issue, Pandita must find her voice―and the strength to move on―in order to give her community hope."

This was a great book! I stayed interested and really loved Pandita as a character and watching her wade through the various difficulties she was facing. I also really liked her friend Leo as a character. I thought the book came together really well in the end (happily ever after) and taught some good lessons. I enjoyed the read. It almost qualified as a loved it but not quite.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Across So Many Seas

I read Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar at the recommendation of my sister Molly. The book description says, "In 1492, during the Spanish Inquisition, Benvenida and her family are banished from Spain for being Jewish, and must flee the country or be killed. They journey by foot and by sea, eventually settling in Istanbul. Over four centuries later, in 1923, shortly after the Turkish war of independence, Reina’s father disowns her for a small act of disobedience. He ships her away to live with an aunt in Cuba, to be wed in an arranged marriage when she turns fifteen. In 1961, Reina’s daughter, Alegra, is proud to be a brigadista, teaching literacy in the countryside for Fidel Castro. But soon Castro’s crackdowns force her to flee to Miami all alone, leaving her parents behind. Finally, in 2003, Alegra’s daughter, Paloma, is fascinated by all the journeys that had to happen before she could be born. A keeper of memories, she’s thrilled by the opportunity to learn more about her heritage on a family trip to Spain, where she makes a momentous discovery. Though many years and many seas separate these girls, they are united by a love of music and poetry, a desire to belong and to matter, a passion for learning, and their longing for a home where all are welcome. And each is lucky to stand on the shoulders of their courageous ancestors."

This was a really great book. I loved all the different stories and how they tied together, and I loved that the author's ancestry and culture influenced the story. There were some stories that were super heartbreaking, others that had more positivity, but it was fascinating to learn about all these different time periods and what it was like for the girl in the place/time she lived and how being Jewish affected her life. I thought this was a really nice read that kept me interested. The ending was very satisfying.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Night War

I saw Kimberly Brubaker Bradley had written a new book, The Night War, so I got it from the library on Kindle. The book description says, "It’s 1942. German Nazis occupy much of France. And twelve-year-old Miriam, who is Jewish, is not safe. With help and quick thinking, Miri is saved from the roundup that takes her entire Jewish neighborhood. She escapes Paris, landing in a small French village, where the spires of the famous Chateau de Chenonceau rise high into the sky, its bridge across the River Cher like a promise, a fairy tale. But Miri’s life is no fairy tale. Her parents are gone—maybe alive, maybe not. Taken in at the boarding school near the chateau, pretending to be Catholic to escape Nazi capture, Miri volunteers one night to undertake a deadly task, one that spans the castle grounds, its bridge, and the very border to freedom. Here is her chance to escape—hopefully to find her parents. But will she take it? One thing is certain: The person Miri meets that night will save her life. And the person Miri becomes that night could save the lives of many more."

This was a great read. I have loved Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's other books as well (The War That Saved My Life & Fighting Words), so with this book being great as well, I now know to just read everything she writes. In this book, I was engaged pretty quickly and loved the characters and the story. The description on Amazon adds that the book had a "mythical twist," which was probably the only part I didn't love, but I also see how it added value to the story. This was an exciting, page-turner kind of book, and it had a kid-friendly happy ending, which makes it a great one to recommend to sensitive readers.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

My Antonia

I read My Antonia by Willa Cather for my book club with friends from church. The book description says, "Set during the great migration west to settle the plains of the North American continent, the narrative follows Antonia Shimerda, a pioneer who comes to Nebraska as a child and grows with the country, inspiring a childhood friend, Jim Burden, to write her life story."

I felt super out of the loop not really knowing about Willa Cather and her books before this (since lots of others in the book club had already read or were familiar with her books), so this was one of those books that I came away from being glad I read even if only to "educate" myself and be more literary. :) I wasn't overly engaged in the book but did enjoy the story and really loved the character of Antonia. There were some sad parts of the story, but I thought the end was satisfying. I probably won't pick up another one of her books on my own, but I wouldn't mind reading another someday if another book club picked it.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Gentleman in Moscow

I read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles for my book club. The book description reads, "In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery."

So much to say about this book! First of all, it was very slow for me at the beginning. Not bad slow necessarily--like I was enjoying what I was reading and following it ok, but it just never made me want to keep reading. So I would read a few pages and then move onto something else. Because of this, it was taking me forever to get through it. Around halfway through, I made myself sit for like an hour to read and made great progress--and then got super into the book. And for the rest of the book, I was excited to read it. The slow start made it so this was one of those books I would have 100% given up on if it weren't a book club book, but now that I'm finished, I'm so glad I read it (and am so proud of myself for finishing it). There were parts of the book that I just loved (Nina's funny personality as a child, the 3 men making a secret soup, the loose geese, the scene with the bishop at the end, etc.). The author brought things around from earlier in the book to later in such fun ways, and the characters were so fun and well-developed. (I especially loved Nina and Sofia, and I also enjoyed Rostov and his 2 friends at the restaurant that he meets with. And Marina.) The book had so many great descriptions or lines or scenes that I made a note of on my phone to discuss at book club. I almost would have said I loved the book rather than liked since I was so enjoying the book the last half, but the ending was a little too inconclusive for my liking since I like things getting wrapped up a little better. But it will make for more fun things to discuss at book club.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

A few quotes to remember:

"For when life makes it impossible for a man to pursue his dreams, he will connive to pursue them anyway." (p. 336)

"For it is the role of the parent to express his concerns and then take three steps back. Not one, ind you, not two, but three. Or maybe four. (But by no means five.) Yes, a parent should share his hesitations and then take three or four steps back so that the child can make a decision by herself--even when that decision may lead to disappointment." (p. 358)

"To what end, he wondered, had the Divine created the stars in heaven to fill a man with feelings of inspiration one day and insignificance the next." (p. 125)

"For if a room that exists under the governance, authority, and intent of others seems smaller than it is, then a room that exists in secret can, regardless of its dimensions, seem as vast as one cares to imagine." (p. 64)

The Magical Imperfect

I saw The Magical Imperfect on the middle school list for Virginia's Readers' Choice and thought it looked like a book I'd enjoy. The book description reads, "Etan has stopped speaking since his mother left. His father and grandfather don’t know how to help him. His friends have given up on him. When Etan is asked to deliver a grocery order to the outskirts of town, he realizes he’s at the home of Malia Agbayani, also known as the Creature. Malia stopped going to school when her acute eczema spread to her face, and the bullying became too much. As the two become friends, other kids tease Etan for knowing the Creature. But he believes he might have a cure for Malia’s condition, if only he can convince his family and hers to believe it too. Even if it works, will these two outcasts find where they fit in?"

This was a nice read. I really liked the premise of the book and liked both main characters. It was cool how the book was based in real history (a World Series, earthquake, etc.) I also liked that the book introduced some important issues (mental health struggles, selective mutism, bullying, losing/finding faith during difficult times, etc.).

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Lovely War

I read Lovely War by Julie Berry for my new book club. The book description says, "They are Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette. A classical pianist from London, a British would-be architect-turned-soldier, a Harlem-born ragtime genius in the U.S. Army, and a Belgian orphan with a gorgeous voice and a devastating past. Their story, as told by goddess Aphrodite, who must spin the tale or face judgment on Mount Olympus, is filled with hope and heartbreak, prejudice and passion, and reveals that, though War is a formidable force, it's no match for the transcendent power of Love."

I enjoyed this book. It was an engaging story with completely lovable characters (the main 4 of Hazel, James, Colette, and Aubrey) that I was rooting for the whole time. I haven't really read much (any?) WWI historical fiction, so I found it interesting and liked learning about perspective of how blacks were treated during that time (especially comparing France and the US). One of my favorite things about the book was when people died and we saw their conversations with Hades. It was kind of touching to see how they were able to look out for the people they left behind and things like that. Due to life circumstances, I had to listen to more than half of it on audiobook, which isn't my preferred method for reading a book like this, so I'm not sure if that affected my level of love for this book--but either way, I liked it.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Downstairs Girl

I read The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee for my book club with friends at church. The book description reads, "By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie." When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender. While her opponents clamor to uncover the secret identity of Miss Sweetie, a mysterious letter sets Jo off on a search for her own past and the parents who abandoned her as a baby. But when her efforts put her in the crosshairs of Atlanta's most notorious criminal, Jo must decide whether she, a girl used to living in the shadows, is ready to step into the light."

This book was my suggestion for the group, and I recommended it because I had liked Stacey Lee's book Under a Painted Sky last year. This was a great read (though I did it via audiobook, which isn't my preferred method of reading--so I think I may have liked it even more if I had read it normally). I loved the unique approach to historical fiction (1890s southern United States but a Chinese main character) and getting a glimpse into that world. Jo was a great character, and it was fun to follow her and her life and secrets. I really liked some of the side characters (Old Gin and Nathan) and also felt like the author did a great job making me super annoyed with some of the other characters (Caroline). I thought this was a fun read. I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Freewater

I put Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson on my to-read list after it won the 2023 Newbery medal. The book description says, "Under the cover of night, twelve-year-old Homer flees Southerland Plantation with his little sister Ada, unwillingly leaving their beloved mother behind. Much as he adores her and fears for her life, Homer knows there’s no turning back, not with the overseer on their trail. Through tangled vines, secret doorways, and over a sky bridge, the two find a secret community called Freewater, deep in the swamp. In this society created by formerly enslaved people and some freeborn children, Homer finds new friends, almost forgetting where he came from. But when he learns of a threat that could destroy Freewater, he crafts a plan to find his mother and help his new home."

This was a great read. It took me a little bit to get through because I kinda hit a lull in the middle, but once I got back into it, I was able to finish it out quickly. I really loved the well-developed characters (mainly children!) and their bravery and courage, and I appreciated the glimpse into the terribly unfair and difficult lives enslaved people had to live. This book reminded me of another book I read (Unbound) that took place in a similar setting (enslaved people finding refuge in a swamp).

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Door of No Return

I saw The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander on a list of possible Newbery contenders and decided to give it a read. (I was in the middle of reading it when the children's book awards were announced, and it didn't win anything. But still a great book.) The book description says, "In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his family, playing oware with his grandfather and swimming in the river Offin. He’s warned though, to never go to the river at night. His brother tells him 'There are things about the water you do not know.' 'Like what?' Kofi asks. 'The beasts.' His brother answers. One fateful night, the unthinkable happens and in a flash, Kofi’s world turns upside down. Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life and what happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves."

This was a very heavy but important book. It was written in verse, which made it a fairly quick read, and the story definitely kept me engaged. The author made Kofi so real and really allowed me as the reader to feel the emotions of what the characters were going through. I liked that the book captured a culture and a part of history that I haven't really read about before. The book was quite sad but somehow written in a way that made it heavy and terrible and yet bearable. Like I didn't come away from the book depressed but did come away with it thinking about the horrific things people had to go through. One of the reviews on the back used the word "sober," which I think it a good description--the story was sobering.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer for the book club I'm in with friends at church. I read it years ago but didn't remember a lot of it, so it was a fun re-read. The book description reads, "January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. . . . As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever."

This is such a great book. Juliet is just a delightful character whose descriptions and thoughts would just make me laugh out loud throughout the book. So many of the other characters were just so fun and likable, and the author just created such distinct, real people. I also loved that the book is based on real things that happened during this time in history in England and on Guernsey. This is a great read--highly recommended. Now I need to watch the movie!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Scarlet Pimpernel

I read The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy for my (adult) book club. The book description says, "The year is 1792. The French Revolution, driven to excess by its own triumph, has turned into a reign of terror. Daily, tumbrels bearing new victims to the guillotine roll over the cobbled streets of Paris.… Thus the stage is set for one of the most enthralling novels of historical adventure ever written.
The mysterious figure known as the Scarlet Pimpernel, sworn to rescue helpless men, women, and children from their doom; his implacable foe, the French agent Chauvelin, relentlessly hunting him down; and lovely Marguerite Blakeney, a beautiful French exile married to an English lord and caught in a terrible conflict of loyalties—all play their parts in a suspenseful tale that ranges from the squalid slums of Paris to the aristocratic salons of London, from intrigue on a great English country estate to the final denouement on the cliffs of the French coast."

I ended up liking this book, but boy was it hard for me to get into it at the beginning! I had the book for more than a month and only read like 30 pages. Finally I was down to the wire in terms of the book club meeting coming up, so I forced myself to read more--and finally got into it and finished the rest of the book in just a few days. The old fashioned language was just hard for me to follow, and I just wasn't pulled into the story at first. But I ended up enjoying it and finding it very adventurous at the end. I'm proud of myself for getting through it. :) I also found on this blog that I read this book like 10 years ago (which I hardly remembered) and felt pretty much the same about it. :)

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The War I Finally Won

Emmeline and I recently read The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley for the girls' book club I run. (I had read it previously, but she hadn't.) She read the sequel afterward, so I decided to re-read it too: The War I Finally Won. Here's the book description: "When Ada’s clubfoot is surgically fixed at last, she knows for certain that she’s not what her mother said she was—damaged, deranged, crippled mentally as well as physically. She’s not a daughter anymore, either. Who is she now? World War II rages on, and Ada and her brother, Jamie, move with their guardian, Susan, into a cottage with the iron-faced Lady Thorton and her daughter, Maggie. Life in the crowded home is tense. Then Ruth moves in. Ruth, a Jewish girl, from Germany. A German? Could Ruth be a spy? As the fallout from war intensifies, calamity creeps closer, and life during wartime grows even more complicated. Who will Ada decide to be? How can she keep fighting? And who will she struggle to save?"

This is such a beautiful read. I didn't remember all the details from the last time I read it, so it was fun to re-read. I loved the return of all the characters from book one, and I love how the author creates such well-developed characters. The book was full of difficult things that Ada and the other characters had to face, but I loved watching Ada grow and change. I also loved the ending so much. Such a good read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Christy

I read Christy by Catherine Marshall for book club. It is a historical fiction book originally published back in the 60s, and I'd heard of it for years but was excited to finally take the time to read this classic. Here's the book description from Amazon: "In 1912, and against the wishes of her parents, nineteen-year-old Christy Huddleston leaves her life of privilege and ease to become a missionary teacher in an impoverished and isolated valley in the Smoky Mountains. The job turns out to be more difficult--and rewarding--than she had anticipated, as she comes to know and care for the wild mountain people with their fierce pride, terrible poverty, dark superstitions, and their yearning for beauty and truth.Her faith is severely tested--by her students and by the suffering of the people she comes to love. When her dearest friend is taken by a typhoid epidemic, Christy questions the sovereignty and power of God.And when two remarkable young men fall in love with her--the pastor who is drawn to her courage and independence, and the non-Christian doctor who is drawn to the light of Christ shining through her--her heart is torn between love and desire."

I loved this book! It made me so glad to be in this book club because it's a book I probably would never have read otherwise. The story was super engaging (and even more fascinating because it was based on the real experiences of the author's mother). The author made the characters feel so real. I also loved the Christian/spiritual side of things--so many deep thoughts and meaningful experiences scattered throughout the book. Such a great read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Set Me Free

After enjoying Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte, I got the sequel from the library: Set Me Free. The description of the book says, "Three years after being kidnapped as a 'live specimen' in a cruel experiment to determine the cause of her deafness, Mary Lambert has grown weary of domestic life on Martha's Vineyard, and even of her once beloved writing. So when an old acquaintance summons her to an isolated manor house outside Boston to teach a young deaf girl to communicate, Mary agrees. But can a child of eight with no prior language be taught? And is Mary up to the task? With newfound purpose, Mary arrives only to discover that there is much more to the girl's story--and the circumstances of her confinement--than she ever could have imagined. Suddenly, teaching her and freeing her from the prison of her isolation, takes on much greater meaning, and peril."

This was a great read. It's always fun to read sequels of books where you enjoyed the characters and setting because you get to re-join the world. I enjoyed following Mary's adventure and seeing how she navigated the people and situations she came across. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first book, but I still was glad I read it.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)