Serafina's Promise

I saw Serafina's Promise by Ann E. Burg on the shelf of new children's books at the library.  It caught my eye because it was described on the cover as "a novel in verse," and the back cover included a review written by Karen Hesse (whose novel Out of the Dust was written in verse and was one of my favorite books when I was a kid).  This book follows Serafina, a young girl living in Haiti. Her family doesn't have much money, but Serafina dreams of being able to attend school so she can one day become a doctor--just like the woman who once tried to save her baby brother's life.  But Serafina's life is not easy, especially when a huge earthquake hits the city right by her home.

This was a beautifully written book.  It was completely engaging, and Serafina was an inspiring and hope-filled character.  I loved how the book captured the Haitian people and culture.  I also just felt so connected to all of the characters, who were so well-developed.  I really loved reading the book, and I would definitely recommend this quick read to others.

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

The Boy on the Wooden Box

I found this next book on the Provo City Library's children's book blog.  It is called The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the impossible became possible on Schindler's list.  This book is a memoir written by Leon Leyson, a child/teenager who survived the Holocaust.  He and his family lived a happy life in Poland until German soldiers took over and began to send Jews to ghettos and concentration camps.  It wasn't until Leon found himself and some of his family on a list of "necessary" workers--a list created by a Nazi named Oskar Schindler--that Leon realized he had a chance of surviving the war.

This was an amazing story.  Every Holocaust book I read just shocks me as I again realize the absolute horror the Jews had to go through during this terrible time.  Leon was an amazingly strong, brave kid to go through all that he did, and the book also helped me see the heroism of Oskar Schindler--one who did "the best of things in the worst of times."  This was a wonderful book, and I really loved the Afterword with words written by his wife and kids.  I'm so glad I read this book.

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

Written in Stone

Written in Stone by Rosanne Parry was recommended on the Provo City Library blog.  The book is about Pearl, a young Native American girl who is part of the Makah people.  They are whale hunters, but when Pearl's father is killed on a hunt and then the whales begin hiding from steam-powered ships, Pearl and her people are in trouble. Pearl must find a way to help protect her people and preserve their stories.

This was a nice read.  It had a super slow start, though, and I probably wouldn't have kept reading beyond the first few chapters except for the raving review the librarian gave on the Provo City site.  The book was described as "a fascinating, tender, totally respectful story of the Pacific Coast Indians, not to be missed."  So when I wasn't into the book at first, I knew I should maybe give it more time to see what the reviewer saw.  I was glad I kept reading because I became more interested as the book went on.  It was a sweet, tender story that captured the lives of Native Americans through the author's beautiful writing.  I also liked that the author's first job was teaching school on a reservation, so she really has a love and respect for Native American people.

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

Rooftoppers

I saw a review of Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell on the Provo City Library children's book blog. The book is about Sophie, who as a baby was found floating in a cello case in the English Channel after a shipwreck.  Charles Maxim, the bachelor who found Sophie, becomes her guardian, and they live a wonderful life together.  But when child services questions a single man raising a young girl reaching young-adulthood, Charles and Sophie run away.  They run to Paris, hoping to find Sophie's long-lost mother.

This was a really cute book. It was a quick read and pretty engaging.  Sophie and Charles were such well-developed characters, and it was really fun to get to know their personalities.  Several parts of their relationship at the beginning just made me laugh out loud, and they were just endearing.  The book focused less on Charles as the book went on, which maybe made me like the second half slightly less than the beginning.  But this was a beautifully written book, and I really enjoyed it.

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

Insurgent

I borrowed Insurgent from a friend to continue the Veronica Roth Divergent series.  This book again tells the story of Tris, a 16-year-old newly initiated into the Dauntless faction.  Now the five factions (and the unfactionless) are at the brink of war, and Tris must decide where she stands.

This was another good book.  It kept me interested in reading to find out what would happen.  There is a lot of action and good character development.  I had a little trouble keeping track of some side characters as the factions became less separate, and again, the book was a little depressing (lots of negativity, fighting, death, etc.).  But I enjoyed reading it and will try to borrow the sequel from a friend (since I am #257 on the library wait list).

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

Divergent

I've heard people recommend Divergent by Veronica Roth for awhile, and then I just saw a movie theater preview for a Divergent movie coming out--which finally motivated me to read the book.  Divergent is about a dystopian society that is grouped into 5 factions--each focused on a single positive quality.  When citizens turn 16, they take an aptitude test and find out their best faction match; they then choose whether to remain in their faction of birth or switch to another for life. Sixteen-year-old Beatrice lives in Abnegation, the faction of selflessness.  Her aptitude test turns up inconclusive--secretly marking her as Divergent.  Beatrice has to decide how--and why--to keep her secret as she discovers a new side of herself in a new faction.

This was a really good book.  The story was interesting, and it was very engaging and unique.  It turned out to be a quick read even though it was a long book--probably because it was semi-addicting.  I liked Beatrice and a character named Four and felt like they were really well-developed.  I really, really liked the book, but for some reason, I can't quite give it the "love" rating.  Maybe just because it had kind of a negative feel to the story overall; there was lots of violence and death and unhappiness, so maybe that vibe just kind of turned me away.  But I am still super excited to read the next book.  Hopefully I can borrow it from a friend because I'm #62 on the library wait list.

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

Gregor the Overlander

My teenage neighbor lent me Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins, telling me this was one of her favorite series and that she liked it better than the author's other famous series (Hunger Games). This book tells about 11-year-old Gregor who lives in NYC and has a less than ideal life after his dad mysteriously disappeared two years before. Gregor is in charge of watching his 2-year-old sister Boots all summer, and one day while doing laundry, they fall into an air vent and end up in the Underland--a land with humans who fly on bats, giant rats and cockroaches, and spiders. Gregor is immediately on a mission to first, survive, and second, get himself and Boots back home.

This was a really fun book. It was hard to imagine this as being the same author as Hunger Games just because it was so different. But I really liked the plot--once I got into it, it was fast-moving and exciting. The characters were all very endearing--surprisingly, I think a cockroach was one of my favorite characters. I like how the book ended, even though it is a series. I plan to continue reading the rest of the series.

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