Theodore Boone: The Fugitive

I found Theodore Boone: The Fugitive by John Grisham at the library and was happy to see there was another book in this series. These books follow 13-year-old Theo, the son of lawyer parents who wants to be a lawyer or judge himself one day. This book follows the case from the previous book, that of Pete Duffy, a local man accused of murder. When Theo finds himself face-to-face with Pete while on a school trip to DC, suddenly Theo is more involved in the case than he intended.

I enjoyed the book--I just think this series is fun. The story is definitely not very believable at times, but I can look past that and just have fun with it. I think Theo is an interesting character, and I think these books would also be really educational for kids in terms of how the justice system works.

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

Echo

I saw Pam Munoz Ryan had written a new book called Echo, so I put it on hold at the library. (I really like this author.) I couldn't figure out a good way to explain a summary of the book, so here is the summary from the School Library Journal: "A mouth harp (aka harmonica) becomes the tangible thread that connects the stories of three children: Friedrich, a disfigured outcast; Mike, an impoverished orphan; and Ivy, an itinerant farmer's child. Their personal struggles are set against some of the darkest eras in human history: Friedrich, the rise of Nazi Germany; Mike, the Great Depression; Ivy, World War II. The children are linked by musical talent and the hand of fate that brings [the] harmonica into their lives. Each recognizes something unusual about the instrument, not only its sound but its power to fill them with courage and hope. Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy are brought together by music and destiny in an emotionally triumphant conclusion at New York's Carnegie Hall."

This was a well-written and engaging book. I feel like I really liked each separate story of the three kids and maybe would have preferred to hear each child's full story rather than the partial stories that were then interconnected in the book. I read this book a month ago so have already forgotten anything else to chime in, but it was a good one. :)

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

On My Own Two Feet

I saw somewhere that Amy Purdy had written an memoir--On My Own Two Feet: From Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life. I had watched Amy Purdy (a Paralympic snowboarder with 2 prosthetic legs) on Dancing with the Stars, so I got the book from the library. It tells Amy's story from childhood until the sudden, severe bacterial meningitis she contracted at age 19 that made her lose her legs. Then the book carries on with how she moved forward with her life to become a Paralympic snowboarder bronze medalist and a finalist on Dancing with the Stars.

This was a really inspiring book. I really loved Amy when she was on Dancing with the Stars and was impressed by what a kind, happy person she was. It was amazing to read about all the physical challenges she went through during and after her sickness and how she realized she had bigger things to accomplish in her life. I really enjoyed the read. FYI, it does have some bad language, but it's mild and infrequent.

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

One for the Murphys

When reading Fish in a Tree a few weeks ago, I saw that the author (Laura Mullaly Hunt) had written another book--One for the Murphys--so I checked it out from the library. This book is about 12-year-old Carley Connors who finds herself unexpectedly in foster care. She gets placed with the Murphys--a family with three boys--and is shocked by the kind of happy family life she is experiencing. While she at first fights her emotions and is resistant to being happy there, she soon finds herself changing.

This was an incredible book. I was enthralled by the story and just loved Carley and Mrs. Murphy throughout the story. The author did an amazing job of connecting the reader to the emotions of the characters. I seriously, literally BAWLED for a good 5 chapters in the book. (So just a warning that if you're a crier, you will cry.) I just loved that the book felt so real, and it showed me the goodness of people. This was a meaningful, beautiful read. But heart-wrenching. Beware.

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

The Queen

I've been reading The Selection series by Kiera Cass and found she wrote another novella--a short story from the perspective of another character in the series. The Queen is about Maxon's mom Amberly when she was in the selection (years before) to complete for Maxon's dad.

This was a quick but fun read. It was interesting to see another side of the story and get to know Amberly and her background and how she came to be queen.

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

Mr. Terupt Falls Again

After reading the first Mr. Terupt book, I got Mr. Terupt Falls Again by Rob Buyea from the library. This follow the same students from Mr. Terupt's original class. I don't want to elaborate on the plot so I don't give anything away from book 1, so you can just go back and read that first review.

This book was really good. I liked reading about the same characters again and seeing what happened next in their lives. I like how all the kids are so different yet work together and build friendships, and I like seeing how they overcome their diverse and sometimes difficult family situations. I liked this book a little less than the first one, just because I felt like it was too focused on crushes, periods, etc.--but I guess that is what makes it a good book for upper elementary kids who are soon facing a lot of those things. But for me, it was just a distraction from the content and plot.

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

Fish In a Tree

I saw Fish In a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt on Amazon as a book purchased by people who bought Wonder so decided to get it from the library. It is about Ally, a sixth grader who struggles in school and is made fun of by her peers and misunderstood by her teacher and principal. When a new teacher, Mr. Daniels, comes into the picture, Ally starts opening up and discovering her strengths.

This was a really beautiful book about the power of a teacher to reach a child. The title of the book is based on the quote, "Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid." The book was a little hard to read sometimes because of how much Ally was struggling, but I loved seeing her change and gain confidence and then help others. I can't really decide whether to give this 2 stars or 3, so I'm going with 2--but know it's a high 2.

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