Theodore Boone: The Abduction

After reading John Grisham's first book about Theodore Boone, I went to the library to get the newest one: Theodore Boone: The Abduction.  In this book, Theo's best friend April (who has a very dysfunctional family) suddenly disappears and is presumed kidnapped.  Theo and his friends form their own search parties to help find her, but when the police suddenly find a body in the river, Theo realizes that everything is not as hopeful as he thought.

This was another really engaging book--a super quick read because it kept me interested.  I enjoyed the plot and the characters.  I probably liked this book slightly less than the first one, but it was still great.

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

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

I saw Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham on the New York Times bestseller list at the library, and it sparked my interest.  This book is about 13-year-old Theo who loves visiting the courthouse and watching judges and lawyers in action.  He keeps his own office in a storage closet at his parents' law office, and he helps kids at his school with questions related to the law.  Theo is thrilled to be able to watch parts of a criminal trial in his town--a man accused of killing his wife.  It looks like the man is going to go free, but suddenly Theo is given some information that would prove the man's guilt.  It is up to Theo to decide what to do.

This book was awesome!  If all John Grisham's books are this good, I'm converted.  It was completely engaging, with exciting twists, totally believable characters, and a fabulous storyline. I also learned a ton about the judicial system while reading, which was fascinating.  So glad I found this book!

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

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

Yes, I still read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney.  This latest book is about Greg and his family during the holiday season and the huge snowstorm that gets them stranded in their house.

This was another funny book, a few parts getting me to chuckle out loud.  Greg is just a hilarious character, and it's just entertaining to read what happens to him and his perspective on things.  Not much more to say about it, but it's such a quick read, that I don't even feel that bad about spending my time reading it.

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

Nory Ryan's Song

After really enjoying a book by Patricia Reilly Giff last week, I looked for more books by her at the library and found Nory Ryan's Song.  This book is about Nory and her family who live in Ireland in the mid-1800s.  Money is tight, and they are at the mercy of the English government--expected to pay rent each month no matter what.  Things go terribly wrong when the potato crop suddenly goes bad.  Soon Nory (and all her neighbors) completely run out of food and are desperate to survive.

This was a very well written book (great language), and it was fascinating to learn about this time (the Great Hunger of 1845-1852) in Ireland that I really know nothing about.  It was even neater to read in the author's note at the end that 6 of the author's 8 grandparents lived through the famine and then came to America--but none of them really spoke of that time in their lives.  So, the author went to Ireland, researched, and wrote this novel.  The book was almost too sad to really enjoy--just a lot of bad things happening and not much good.  But, I'm still glad I read it.

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

Kira-Kira

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata was the Newbery medal winner in 2005.  This book is about Katie, a Japanese-American girl who adores her older sister Lynn.  When Katie's parents have to close their grocery store, the family moves to Georgia where the parents work long hours at menial jobs to help the family save money for a house.  Soon Lynn gets very sick, and Katie is full of questions but is given no answers--but tries to use Lynn's optimism to keep the family together.

This was a very well written book--made me laugh out loud but also made me cry (ie., bawl my eyes out).   There is a strong plot, and I loved how the book was written from Katie's point of view.  It's just great to read a book that really captures a child's point of view.  The only downside to this book is that there was a little bit of language and some references to inappropriate things, so I wouldn't really consider this a children's book even though I think that's its intended audience.

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

R My Name is Rachel

I saw R My Name is Rachel in the new book section at the library and recognized the author, Patricia Reilly Giff, as one I've liked in the past.  This book takes place during the Great Depression where 12-year-old Rachel lives with her dad and younger brother and sister in the city.  When her dad loses his job but gets a chance to work out in a town in the country, they move to a run-down farm house.  Even worse for readaholic Rachel, the town school is closed because they can't afford a teacher.   When the job doesn't work out and Pop has to leave the kids alone in search of work, things move from bad to worse--but Rachel and her siblings find a way to make the most of what they have.

This was a quick read and just a wonderful book.  I love this author's language and descriptions, and Rachel was a wonderful and relate-able character.  (And I loved all the other characters too.)  It was a great book to put a face on what the Great Depression was like, and the book was just full of detail.  Loved it!

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

I, Coriander

I got the book I, Coriander by Sally Gardner from a student when I taught school, and for some reason, I never got to reading it until now.  It's the story of Coriander, a young girl in England in the 1600s, whose mother dies, and then a few years later, her father disappears.  She's left with her evil stepmother and an even evil-er preacher, but she soon finds an escape into another world where she discovers that her mother had been a fairy princess.

This was a nice read--well written, thoughtful language and great characters; I loved the ones I was supposed to love and just despised the ones I was supposed to despise.  I also liked the historical background in the book (Oliver Cromwell, etc.).  The only downside to the book was that I didn't love the parts of the book where she went to the other world--maybe because it reminded me of some not-as-enjoyable books I've read where similar events take place.

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