Heart of a Samurai

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus was a Newbery Honor book for 2011. It's about a 14-year-old boy named Manjiro who is with 4 friends fishing when a huge storm hits, and they end up getting stranded on a deserted island. As food begins to run out and things are getting desperate, they are rescued--but by barbarians (what Manjiro has been taught white men are). As Manjiro and his friends are taken on board by the kind captain, Manjiro finds that these men are not barbarians and that he is very interested in the world outside Japan. The book chronicles Manjiro's travels and his dream to one day return home.

This was a really awesome book. First of all, it's based on a true story (explained in the epilogue and historical note at the end), which is really cool. The book also had very likable characters and a interesting and changing story that kept me reading. It was very well written and just a good book. I'd rate it higher, but I don't think it quite reached the love level because I wasn't too interested in the subject matter--but the book was great.

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

Jumping the Scratch

I chose to read Jumping the Scratch by Sarah Weeks because she's the author of a book I read in the past called So B. It. This book tells about Jamie who lives with his mother and Aunt Sapphy after his parents' divorce. His aunt suffers from amnesia after an accident at work, and Jamie is lonely and bullied at school. Then something even worse happens to Jamie, and this book tells the story of how he gets past these hard things in his life.

This was a quick read and a nice story. Even though lots of bad things happened to Jamie, the book seemed to have a positive feel to it anyway. I really liked the characters in the book. I found this book in the children's section of the library, but I'd say it's more for young adults because the bad thing that happens to Jamie is subject matter that may not be appropriate for kids.


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

Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones

Alcatraz Verses the Scrivener's Bones by Brandon Sanderson is the second book in the Alcatraz series. In this book, Alcatraz and his companions have to go try to save Alcatraz's grandfather who is at the mysterious Library of Alexandria. With only some special lenses and his talent for breaking things, Alcatraz has to get past the soul-sucking curators and lead those with him to save his father and grandfather.

This was another unique book. I really like one of the side characters, Bastille. Sometimes this book made me laugh out loud, and other times the humor was just pretty odd. It was a fun story that kept me wondering what would happen.

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

The Price We Paid

I received The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie & Martin Handcart Pioneers by Andrew D. Olsen as a gift from my grandma. It is an account of Mormon pioneers who crossed the United States using handcarts in 1856--and due to leaving too late in the season experienced terrible hardship. The book tells of their journey starting with the ship in England all the way to their life in Utah once they arrived.

This was an incredible story. I picked up the book expecting to just read a little bit but ended up reading the entire book in about a week. It was just so compelling to read about the faith of these people and how despite difficulties, pain, and tragedy, they kept their faith in God and trusted that He would have everything work out for their good. It was really an amazing, thorough book with lots of first-hand accounts. It's also really special for me to read because I had an ancestor who as a young girl was a part of the handcart company.

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