365 Days of Wonder

I got 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts by R.J. Palacio from the library to finish up  all the Wonder books that are out. This is mainly a quote book--one precept for each day of the year--but in between each month's precepts are a few pages from Mr. Browne (the teacher from Wonder).

I really enjoyed this book. First, the pages from Mr. Browne added to the story of Wonder and answered unanswered questions from the book. It was nice to continue in the world of Wonder. I also really loved the collections of precepts. As a teenager, I was really into quotes and would collect quotes, so I think this book was just right up my alley. There were lots of inspirational quotes that stuck out to me and made me think. I think I'd like to own this book so I can just keep referring back to the quotes.

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

Some favorite quotes on kindness from the book:

Because of Mr. Terupt

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea is another book I found on Amazon's "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" section (for Wonder, I think), so I got it from the library. It is about a class of fifth graders and their new teacher, Mr. Terupt. The book follows the diverse perspective of 7 of the students through alternating chapters and how amazing Mr. Terupt somehow knows how to handle all of them. The kids have "girl wars" and disagreements, but when tragedy strikes, it will bring them all close together.

This was a great book. The first few chapters were a little slow for me, but once I got to know the different characters, I was hooked. It helped me remember that things are never what they seem in people's lives, and we should just be kind to everyone and give everyone a chance. I also loved how the class worked with the special needs classroom and following the kids' reactions to that. Once the turning point of the story hit, I could not stop reading and had to stay up late just to finish the book and see how things would end. I really loved the story, the characters, and the lessons the book teaches on forgiveness, kindness, and being different. I also just saw that there are two more Mr. Terupt books by the author, so I'm excited to read them as well.

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

The War That Saved My Life

I saw The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley on Amazon under a "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" section for a book I was buying, so I got it from the library. It is about 10-year-old Ada who is kept locked up in her house by her cruel mother just because Ada has a crippled foot. When Ada's little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada sneaks along with him and experiences the world for the first time.

This was a beautiful book. It was hard to read sometimes because I was so frustrated by Ada's inability to love herself or recognize the love of others--but it also made sense because of the way her mom treated her. I loved learning about a different side of WWII (children evacuees) and following Ada, Jamie, and their new caretaker Susan. The main characters were all distinct and lovable, and the story kept me wondering how there could be a happy ending. I think the book also taught some important lessons about kindness and confidence.

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

Wonder (& 2 bonus stories)

After lending Wonder by R.J. Palacio to a couple friends, I decided I should re-read it since it is one of my favorite books. And after re-reading it, I bought two of the bonus stories the author wrote--Pluto (a chapter from Christopher's perspective) and Shingaling (a chapter from Charlotte's perspective). Here's the link to first time I wrote about this book and the time I re-read it the first time, but basically this book is the story of fifth grader Auggie Pullman who is born with a craniofacial anomaly--which makes his face receive a lot of negative attention when he starts school for the first time. Wonder is about how he and the kids around him handle this year of school. The two extra chapters I read tell the stories of two other characters from the book during the same school year.

I loved Wonder again, and I also loved the two new stories. The stories helped me realize that kindness can be shown in a lot of different ways. Wonder always inspires me to be a better, kinder person and to raise my daughter to show kindness without reservation. If you haven't read this book, you really, really should. It is not very long and brings out laughter, tears, and deep thinking about life.

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

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

I saw Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Christ Grabenstein on the New York Times Bestsellers list for children's books, so I got it from the library. The book is about Kyle Keeley, a middleschooler who is selected with a few others to be part of a lock-in at the brand new library. A world-famous game maker designed the new library, and Kyle and the other kids have to find and follow clues to find their way out.

This was a fun read. The characters were entertaining and distinct, and it was fun to follow the mystery throughout the story. I only wish that I had been more observant while reading because the Author's Note at the end mentions an unsolved puzzle in the book. Oh well. :)

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

A Long Walk to Water

Sometimes I glance through the New York Times Bestseller Lists to find book recommendations, and the other day I saw A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park on the list of children's bestsellers. The book tells the story of two children in Sudan--Nya (in 2008) who walks to and from the pond twice a day every day (2 hours each way) to get water for her family and Salva (in 1985) who has to run alone to the bush to escape the war in his homeland.

This was an absolutely beautiful book. I was completely engaged from the beginning and didn't want to stop reading. It was a quick read but compelling, heartbreaking, and inspiring. At the end of the book, I found out that this was based on a true story, and I became even more fascinated and inspired. You HAVE to read this book and then visit www.waterforsudan.org. This was a life-changing book, and it made me feel like I really should be doing more good in the world.

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

The Heir

I've been anxiously awaiting The Heir by Kiera Cass--the fourth book in The Selection series (which was originally only supposed to be a trilogy). I was going to be on hold at the library for forever, but luckily a friend who I recommended the books to last year bought this new one--so I borrowed it. :) This book follows King Maxon and his wife's oldest child--a daughter Eadlyn who is next in line to the throne. In this book, Eadlyn reluctantly holds her own Selection to find a husband.

This was another great read. I just love this series--the books are both entertaining/funny and charming/chick-flick-y. I thought the author did a really good job in the book presenting the different characters and making me like (or dislike) them. I liked how she made Eadlyn come across as a likable main character but with obvious flaws that I noticed between the lines as the book went on. The author also kept me guessing on how things were going to turn out, so I liked that it wasn't predictable. This was a great book, and my only unhappiness with it is how it was very inconclusive at the end. Book 5 better come soon!

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