The Happiness Project

I saw a friend had read this book by Gretchen Rubin, and the title stuck out to me: The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun. This book tells of the author's decision to try to be happier in life--changing her life without changing her life. She spends a year making choices that help her be happier just in the everyday aspects of life. She tells of her resolutions and experiences.

This book was entertaining and extremely thought-provoking. I don't think I've ever read a nonreligious book that inspired me to change my life like this one did. The book really helped me recognize where I could make small adjustments and decisions in my life to just be happier--and thus make those around me happier in return. I finished the book today and have already outlined my own "happiness project" (list of happiness keys and then a list of resolutions). I know I have every reason to be happy, and this book has helped me see how I can make little choices that will help me feel happier every day. Awesome!

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

The Dreamer

After reading and enjoying many of Pam Munoz Ryan's books, I was excited to read her new one, The Dreamer. This book is about Neftali, a small and weak boy who has a love of words. Living in Chile, he endures loneliness and the ridicule of his father through daydreaming, reading, and putting together words. After finishing the book, I realized that this book is a fictional book based on the real events of Pablo Neruda's childhood. (Pablo Neruda is a very famous poet that I will confess I hadn't heard about until reading this book.)

I really enjoyed this book. Neftali was such a wonderful character, full of so much life. It was sad to read how he was treated by his father. I loved reading about Neftali's strong spirit and his love of the details of life. The book was very well written--like poetry itself--with lots of tender moments and important messages.

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

Moon Over Manifest

I chose to read Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool because it won the Newbery Medal for 2011. This book is about a 12-year-old girl named Abilene Tucker whose father sends her to live with an old friend for the summer while he works for the railroad. While Abilene spends her time in Manifest, Kansas, she searches for anything to learn about her father's past and his life in the small town. Soon Abilene finds a box of letters and mementos and then meets a diviner named Miss Sadie who tells stories from the past, and Abilene starts to piece together the town's secrets--and her own part in them.

This was a Newbery winner that I really thought was a great pick. I loved the main character, Abilene, and her curious personality. I also loved the book's format--it switched back and forth from the present to stories of the past. It gave a great glimpse into what life would've been like in a small Kansas town in 1918 and then 1936. It was a good read, with enough unanswered questions to keep me interested throughout.

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

Dragon Spear

I finished up the Jessica Day George series with book 3, Dragon Spear. This book follows Creel on an adventure to the world of dragons.

This one took me longer to read than the other books in the series--it just didn't quite hook me, so I took forever to get through it. That sometimes happens to me in a series when a subject just loses its novelty. But, it was a cute story with enjoyable characters and a clever, adventurous plot line.

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