The Penderwicks

The Penderwicks, by Jeanne Birdsall, was recommended in the Mini-Page in the Washington Post and is (as the subtitle says) "a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy." The book is about 4 girls and their father who rent a cottage to spend the summer. As you read, you follow the adventures the girls have with Jeffrey, the son of the property owner.

This is a really cute book with very well-developed characters. It was really easy to get to know the 4 sisters and enjoy their antics. It was an entertaining and quick read.

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

Under a War-Torn Sky

Under a War-Torn Sky by L.M. Elliott is another book that has been on my bookshelf for awhile. It is about 19-year-old Henry who is a pilot during World War II. When he gets shot down during a bombing mission, he relies on local people and the French Resistance to help him find safety.

This was a really neat story and particularly interesting because it is based on stories the author's father told of his experience as a shot-down pilot in WWII. The book gave lots of information about the war without being boring--it was all just a part of Henry's experience. The characters were realistic, and it was a good read.

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

Riding Freedom

After finishing Becoming Naomi Leon, I decided to read the last book I owned by Pam Munoz Ryan--Riding Freedom. This book is about an orphan named Charlotte who loves horses. She finds a way to escape from her orphanage and eventually becomes a stagecoach driver while disguised as a boy/man for years.

This book was a quick, enjoyable read. It was a fun story, and I was particularly interested when I found out in the "From the Author" at the end that the book is based on a true story--a girl in the 1800s who left her orphanage, who had a successful career in stage coach driving, and who voted in a federal election--and then later came out as being a woman. It's kind of intriguing to think about how few rights women had back then but what a woman could do with her life while pretending to be male.

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

Becoming Naomi Leon

Becoming Naomi Leon is another book that has been on my bookshelf for awhile. It's by Pam Munoz Ryan, and I'd enjoyed her books in the past and decided to try another one. This book is about Naomi, who lives with her great-grandmother and little brother and is a talented soap carver. One day, her mother--who hasn't been in Naomi's life since Naomi was 3--shows up, ready to be best friends with Naomi.

I really loved this book. The characters and situations seemed so real, and seeing Naomi's growth through the book was really great. It was just a precious story overall, and I loved where the twists and turns led. I also loved the little side stories, like the librarian at Naomi's school.

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

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

I saw The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate was also recommended in "The Mini Page." (I later saw that it also was a Newbery honor book for 2010.) This book is the story of Calpurnia, an 11-year-old who is the only girl, right in the middle of 7 children. She lives in Texas in 1899, and we follow her life as she begins to develop a relationship with her grandfather, a naturalist, and realize that her true interests lie in science and the outdoors--not needlepoint and cooking.

This was a really nice story, all told from the point of view of Callie. She is just a cute and entertaining character to follow, along with the rest of her family. The author does a great job really bringing in the historical nature of the time period as well. It was just a really fun read with a sweet story that kept me interested.

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

The Great Gilly Hopkins

I saw The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson recommended in "The Mini Page," a little section of the Washington Post for kids. I remembered my mom (or someone) telling me to read the book when I was a kid, so I decided I should try it now. It is the story of Gilly--a child in the foster care system who gets placed in home after home. Finally her newest home is the last straw, so she writes a letter to her birth mom in desperate hopes of getting rescued. The book tells what happens in the chain of events that follow.

I really liked this book. Gilly was just such an interesting character with flaws that you just couldn't blame her for. The book actually made me cry and was quite sad, but I suppose that's what made it a realistic and believable book. It was a quick read with good detail.

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

U.S. History for Dummies

I decided to read U.S. History for Dummies by Steve Wiegand because I am sad how much I've forgotten since taking American history classes in school. I wanted a refresher/summary and thought this would be a good way to do it. The book flows chronologically and just glazes over the main events and people in the history of our country.

I thought this fulfilled my purpose in getting the book. It helped me identify some areas of US history that I'm particularly interested in reading a more substantial nonfiction book about. It wasn't a boring read, and I got a good summary.

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