Forest Born

Forest Born by Shannon Hale is the 4th book of the Books of Bayern. It is the story of Rin, Razo's younger sister, who feels unsure and unsettled about who she is. She decides to leave home for awhile in search of something new even though her family's home in the forest is all she's known. When Rin goes on an important mission with Isi, Enna, and Dasha (who she calls the "fire sisters"), she starts to realize that maybe she has some abilities that she never noticed in the past.

I absolutely loved this book. It was my favorite of the Books of Bayern since Goose Girl, probably since Rin is such a real, likable character. She was so sweet, and the gifts she has made me love reading about how she helped people and made a difference. The book was exciting to read, and as always with these books, it's fun to re-connect with the characters from the past books--but see characters in a new perspective. If you haven't read this series yet, please do. I loved this book! And the whole series! I hope Shannon Hale writes more.

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

Tiger Rising

I chose Tiger Rising because I have enjoyed Kate DiCamillo's books in the past (specifically Tale of Despereaux). This book is about a boy named Rob who recently lost his mother to cancer, lives at a motel with his dad, and gets made fun of at school. As he deals with the sadness and unhappiness in life, one day he sees a caged tiger in the woods behind his house. The story follows what happens with Rob, the new girl Sistine, and that out-of-place tiger.

I really liked this book. I feel like Kate DiCamillo as an author really has a way of bringing you into her stories--just in the words she uses. It was a calming book that really brought out human emotions.

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

Chains

I saw Chains at the library, and I recognized the author (Laura Halse Anderson) from a book I read to my 5th grade classes (Fever 1793). This book is about a girl named Isabel who is a slave during the late 1770s as the fight for independence is beginning between the Patriots and Loyalists. When Isabel is sold to a new owner in New York, she meets Curzon, a slave for a Patriot, who encourages Isabel to spy on her Loyalist owners. However, she also hears that the British offer freedom to slaves who will help their side. The story follows what happens to Isabel as she seeks her own freedom.

I really loved reading this book. It was a really powerful story that brought me into Isabel's mind and heart and gave me a small glimpse of what life was like for a slave during this revolutionary time period. I have to agree wholeheartedly with the quote on the back of the book, and since I can't say it any better, here it is (from Angela Johnson, a Coretta Scott King Award winner): "Laura Halse Anderson's Chains is searing and has so many brilliant sparks I became lost in it. Isabel's harrowing journey into a nightmare realm of slavery, betrayal, loss, and ultimately hope quite literally had me sobbing." Me too. Great book!

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

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is one of those classics I had heard about for years but never read. The author tells the story of tribes in villages in Nigeria and specifically follows one man--Okonkwo, a confident and strong-willed leader, husband, and father who is determined to not follow in the footsteps of his lazy father. Okonkwo spends his life trying to be highly respected, but unfortunately his very human mistakes lead to his exile and dissatisfaction. As the story goes on, Christian missionaries start showing up in these African villages, bringing converts into their churches as the tribes struggle to maintain their identities and beliefs.

I really liked reading this book. It was enlightening to read about a culture that I had no prior knowledge of and to ponder these people's lifestyles and beliefs. I felt connected with the characters and really liked following the story itself.

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

Rapunzel's Revenge

Since I've read pretty much everything else Shannon Hale has written, I figured I should give Rapunzel's Revenge a try even though it was a graphic novel--something I wouldn't normally pick up. This book is about a girl named Rapunzel who finds out that the mean woman she's been calling "mother" for years isn't actually her mother but a kidnapper and evil ruler. Rapunzel is locked in a tree, but her quick growing hair offers her a way to escape, and soon she is on the road, fighting her way to try to rescue her real mother from a slave camp.

This book was a cute story, and it had great pictures. I think it'd be a better book for a read aloud with kids than just me reading it myself. I didn't enjoy it as much as I would a novel because the story felt choppier since it was in the graphic novel form.

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

The BFG

The BFG by Roald Dahl is one of those classic kid books that somehow I never read as a child. So, I decided to read it this week. The BFG is about Sophie, an orphan who is plucked out of her bed one night by a giant. Her fears of getting eaten by the giant go away when she realizes that this giant is the Big Friendly Giant--not a human-eating one like the other 9 giants who live where he does. In The BFG, Sophie allies with the BFG to try to save the lives of humans, who keep getting eaten by the gruesome, evil giants.

This book was very entertaining to read. It's one of those stories where imaginary things are happening, but as you read, you believe that it really was this way. Roald Dahl's books really just capture a fun side of childhood. It was a fun read.

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

Left To Tell

Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza was recommended to me by my mother-in-law. It is the true account of Immaculee and her experiences during the Rwandan genocide that took place in the 90s where hundreds of thousands of Rwandans were murdered. The book tells about Immaculee and her family before the genocide started. It then follows her during the holocaust where she hid in a bathroom with 7 other women for 3 months where she could hear the "machete-wielding killers," including former neighbors and friends, hunting for her. In this book, Immaculee shares what got her through the terrible experiences she endured.

This was a really incredible book to read. I knew hardly anything about the Rwandan holocaust, so the book was, first of all, informational. But it was also very touching in how it showed that even in the worst circumstances, there is always a choice in how you react. Immaculee turned to God during the genocide because that was the only place she could turn in her desperate situation. She found peace and comfort despite the fear and terror and even found forgiveness for the killers. It's really powerful to read about her experiences and to see how she never gave up on believing in the good in the world around her.

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