The Story of My Life

The Story of My Life is Helen Keller's autobiography, and I became interested in reading it because we've been talking a lot about Helen Keller in our house recently.  (Emmeline was really into the Helen Keller DVD in the Animated Heroes series.)  Helen chronicles her life experiences from childhood through college and how she gained her knowledge and education.

This was a very interesting read, but it took me forever to get through.  I actually didn't finish the version of the book I got from the library--it had 3 parts.  Part 1 was Helen Keller's autobiography, part 2 was letters Helen had written, and part 3 was a "supplementary account" written by the book's editor.  The autobiography was very interesting--it's quite fascinating to read how a deaf-blind woman learned so much through her teacher and experiences.  I didn't know much about the details of her life (besides what was in Emmeline's DVD--ha), so this was really cool to read.  Part 2, the letters, was less engaging but still occasionally interesting.  By part 3, I just wasn't really interested anymore.  I figured that if I kept reading, I'd like the book even less, so it was better to stop while I was ahead.

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

Happier at Home

I loved Gretchen Rubin's book The Happiness Project, so when I saw she had this new book, Happier at Home, I knew I wanted to read it.  The subtitle to the book reads: "Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon a Project, Read Samuel Johnson, and My Other Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life."  The book chronicles the author's resolutions to be more happy--focused especially on her home life.  She points out that it's not that she's not happy--it's just that she wanted to make her home happier by appreciating how much happiness was already there.

This was another really thought-provoking book.  It had lots of points that really stuck out to me and helped me realize where I can find more happiness in my life.  Not all of her points or experiences related to me exactly, but the book's overall ideas really resonated with me.  I realized how choices like getting rid of meaningful stuff or starting a memory box for my daughter or treating my husband better (or a myriad of other ideas) would bring me so much more joy in my life.  I liked a quote she shared from Walt Whitman: "Happiness, knowledge, not in another place, but this place, not another hour, but this hour."  So often it's easy for me to wait for happiness to come later...as soon as I get through this stage of life or as soon as this happens.  But, this book reminded me that now is the time to be happy: "How breathtaking, how fleeting, how precious was my ordinary day.  Now is now.  Here is my treasure."

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

Unbroken

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand was recommended to me awhile back, and this month, it also happened to be my book club's book--so I finally got around to reading it.  The subtitle to the book gives a good synopsis: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.  The book tells the true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner on track to run a 4-minute mile when WWII hits and the next Olympics are cancelled.  Louie becomes a part of the military, and when his plane crashes in the ocean, he and the other survivors become stranded on a raft, floating aimlessly for more than 30 days with virtually nothing to eat or drink.  When they amazingly survive, Louie then becomes a POW under the Japanese, abused and tortured in unimaginable ways.

This is a truly amazing book.  It was daunting to me at first, but somehow the author makes this long, historical, nonfiction book absolutely fascinating and hard to put down.  Louie's story enthralled me, and I just wanted to keep reading all the time.  It was so interesting to read about what took place during WWII and was completely appalling to realize the way that POWs were treated by many Japanese.  The book really opened my eyes to the suffering that took place during WWII as well as the suffering that continued for so many veterans after the war.  The author's dedication at the end of the book was one I completely agreed with: "I come away from this book with the deepest appreciation for what these men endured, and what they sacrificed, for the good of humanity. It is to them that this book is dedicated."  The book also included a powerful and inspirational message of forgiveness.*  I loved this book!

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


*The book's explanation of unlikely forgiveness reminded me of another amazing book called The Hiding Place, the autobiography of Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor.  Highly recommended as well.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The librarian also recommended The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, while I'd somehow never read, even though I've read most of Kate DiCamillo's other books.  It's about a china rabbit named Edward Tulane who was owned and loved by a girl named Abilene.  Then one day, he becomes lost--and the book follows his journey from the ocean to a garbage dump to a home, from owner to owner to owner.  And, as the book jacket explains, "Along the way, we are shown a true miracle--that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again."

This is a really sweet book.  It's a quick read but is filled with lots of detail and emotion.  It was actually a pretty sad book at times but also inspiring to see how this rabbit toy could bring joy to the lives of so many during their time with him.  I thought it was a beautifully written book that make you want to keep reading the whole way through.

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

The Diary of a Killer Cat

The librarian at a local elementary school recommended The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine to me as a book I'd enjoy--it's a super quick read (like, it took me 5 minutes).  It's about a cat named Tuffy who gets in trouble from his owners (little girl named Ellie and her parents) for killing a bird.  Ellie tries to convince Tuffy to change his ways, but when a dead rabbit is dragged in, Tuffy is blamed for its death.  The book is told from Tuffy's point of view.

This is a really cute, fun book.  It's such a fun story for younger kids (probably age 7 or so) who want to read a simple chapter book.  It was entertaining and engaging with a clever perspective.  It wasn't long enough for be to be involved enough to rate it 3 stars, but there's nothing I really didn't like about it.  Good book.

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

Wonder

I saw Wonder by R.J. Palacio on the New York Times Best Sellers list of children's books and thought it looked intriguing.  It's about fifth grader August Pullman who enters public school for the first year.  He's been home schooled for years because he was born with a severe facial deformity--which has resulted in lots of medical problems as well as lots of unwanted negative attention.  This book follows August and others in his life as he goes through fifth grade.

This was a really, really, really good book.  I didn't want to put it down and was just rooting for August (and many of the other characters) throughout the book.  The first part of the book follows August, and just about the time that the book started to get a little too depressing, it switched to the point of view of a different character (his sister).  Her account overlapped the end of his story and then moved forward in time, and then the book continued to switch to new point of views that overlapped slightly and also introduced the next part of the story.  It was just wonderfully written and completely inspiring.  I was reminded of the importance of being kind--and not just kind, but kinder than necessary.  Laughter, near-tears, and a new perspective--what a fabulous story and wonderful book!  I would definitely want my kids to read this book because I think it teaches us all about how to treat those who are different.

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

Theodore Boone: The Accused

This is the newest book in John Grisham's Theodore Boone series.  This book again follows Theo, an 8th grader whose lawyer parents have passed onto him a love of court and law.  In this book, Theo gets accused of stealing from a computer store after some missing items are found in his locker.  Theo and his parents know he is being framed, but they don't know why, and Theo is the police's number one suspect.  Theo works with his friends and uncle Ike to try to come up with what is going on.

I enjoyed reading this book.  I enjoy the premise of these books, and the book kept me guessing with how it would end.  I did feel like the book sometimes is wordier than necessary, and there wasn't a lot of action for an entire book.  It was a fun read.

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

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart is a kind of prequel to the Mysterious Benedict Society books.  It follows 9-year-old Nicholas, a genius child who also happens to have narcolepsy, which causes him to fall asleep at quite inconvenient moments.  Nicholas is sent to a new orphanage where he is able to endure the harrassment of the Spiders (bullies) only because of a rumor that there is a hidden treasure at the orphanage.  With two friends by his side, Nicholas works to solve the mystery.

This was a really fun book.  Nicholas is an old man in the Mysterious Benedict Society books, so it was neat to read a book about his background.  The characters were really interesting and likable, and the plot was engaging.  The only downsides were (1) that the story sometimes seemed a little lengthy (maybe could've been more concise) and (2) that, for me, it was kind of predictable at times.  But, I really liked the book, and the book kept me interested throughout.

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

Princess Academy: Palace of Stone

I've been waiting anxiously for Palace of Stone (the sequel to Princess Academy) by Shannon Hale.  It comes out on the 21st, but I somehow got amazingly lucky and won an advance copy a few days ago after answering a Princess Academy trivia question on Shannon Hale's facebook page.  Yay!  I don't want to elaborate on the plot since that would give away what happened in the first book, but read here for a summary of Princess Academy.

This was a fabulous book--one of those sequels that is just as good (or better) than the first book.  The book was true to all the original characters' personalities, just putting them in a new setting.  I loved the developments that took place and also thoroughly enjoyed the chick flick nature of the story.  If you're looking for a good book to read next, this book and its predecessor are awesome picks.  Engaging and exciting plots as well as deep and lovable characters--plus they are just generally well-written books.  Highly recommended!

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

Enna Burning (re-read)

Enna Burning by Shannon Hale is the next book after Goose Girl in the Books of Bayern series.

[I'll add to this post another time.  Since it's a re-read, it's not a priority for me to write about it right now.]

Goose Girl (re-read)

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale is a favorite book of mine that I decided to re-read.

[I'll add to this post another time.  Since it's a re-read, it's not a priority for me to write about it right now.]

May B.

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose was another book that looked good at Barnes and Noble, so I found it at the library.  It's about young May, whose parents send her to help at a neighbor's homestead for a few months.  And, as the book's inside cover says, "But when a terrible turn of events leaves her all alone, she must try to find food and fuel--and courage--to make it through the approaching winter."

This was a really sweet book.  It was written in verse (similar to a favorite book of mine, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse), which made it a quick but nice read.  There was fabulous character development--I just felt like I really understood May and loved seeing how she grew throughout the story.  It was such a quick read that I wasn't involved enough to love the book, but I really liked it.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Glory Be

I saw Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood recently at Barnes and Noble and thought it looked good, so I checked it out at the library.  It's about 11-year-old Glory who lives in Hanging Moss, Mississippi in 1964.  As summer hits, things start to change in their town as visitors from the North come to try to give more rights to blacks in their town.  The town council closes the pool for "repairs" rather than allow blacks to swim, and Glory realizes her yearly 4th of July birthday party at the pool will be ruined.  The book follows Glory as she comes to understand the changes taking place in her town.

This was a quick read and a nice story.  It wasn't anything super unique or special; it seemed to be a lot like other books written about the time period.  I did like the characters and following how the various people in the town felt about civil rights and what was taking place.  Sometimes I got distracted in my reading because I felt like Glory didn't act the way I would really expect a girl in her situation to act.  But, it was a thought-provoking book and showed the strength it took for both blacks and whites to stand up for civil rights during this time period.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Criss Cross

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins is a Newbery medal winner I've owned for years.  I thought I'd read it but recently realized that I never actually did.  The book follows Debbie (and numerous other characters) during a summer in Seldem.

I don't really have much more to add to the summary of the book because it was one of those books without a real set plot or conflict to follow.  Instead, it just followed a bunch of different characters in their everyday lives throughout the summer in this small town.  The book regularly changes points of view as it shows paths crossing among all the different people--mainly preteens and teenagers.  It was not a super engaging book because of the lack of structure, but the book had some cute scenes and catchy or thought-provoking lines that made it a nice read.  I saw there is a companion book, and I'll probably read it sometime.

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

Al Capone Shines My Shoes

Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko is the sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts, a Newbery honor book I read a few years ago.  The book again follows Moose and his family and friends who live on Alcatraz Island--alongside the nation's worst convicts.  Moose's dad works as a guard on the island, and Moose's friends are the children of other prison employees.  The story tells what happens as the result of Moose asking Al Capone for a favor to help out his sister Natalie who has autism.

I really liked this book.  It was a fun book with lots of different but entertaining child characters.  The setting of the book is so unique that it just makes it a fun read, and the author adds a note at the end to explain what parts of the book were based on actual events that took place at Alcatraz.  The book kept me interested, so I finished it quickly.  I would definitely read another of these books if she wrote another one.

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

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

I wanted to read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor after reading its prequel, The Land a few weeks ago.  I'm pretty sure I read this book back in middle school, but I didn't remember much about it.  It's about the Logan family, living in the 1930s in Mississippi.  Nine-year-old Cassie and her brothers are learning to come to terms with what it means to be black in their community, and the whole family endures trials as the result of racism as well as financial difficulties.

This was another beautifully written book by Mildred Taylor.  She does an amazing job just bringing the reader into the story and making the situations and characters so real.  I was super engaged in the story, and it was very thought-provoking.  I really loved the book.

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

The Serpent's Shadow

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan is the third and final book of the Kane Chronicles.  It follows magicians Sadie and Carter Kane who work with the Ancient Egyptian gods to try to bring order to the world.  Doomsday is coming in 3 short days if they can't stop Apophis (the Chaos snake), who is also working to divide magicians against each other.  It's up to Sadie, Carter, and their friends to try to save the world.

This book was hard for me to get through.  I just wasn't super motivated to read it--maybe because it seemed very events-based, and there are so many foreign details to keep track of in the book.  It was a fun book with distinct characters and some memorable parts, but I definitely like Rick Riordan's original series (The Lightning Thief) better.

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

The Land

The Land by Mildred D. Taylor is the book of the month for the book club I'm in.  It's a prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, a book I read back in middle school.  It's the story of Paul-Edward, the son of a black former slave and her white owner.  Paul, growing up in the 1880s, finds himself caught between two worlds.  While his white father and brothers accept him, educate him, and love him, the rest of the white world is not so kind.  However, the black community often dislikes Paul because his skin is so white and the advantages he received.  The book follows Paul-Edward from childhood through adulthood as he tries to follow his dream of owning land just like his father.

This was an AWESOME book.  I was just completely enthralled and didn't want to stop reading.  I loved following the story and the characters, and it was just felt so real.  (Actually, the reason it felt that way is probably because the story is based real experiences in the author's family history, which makes the book even more fascinating.)  I loved getting a glimpse of what life was like between whites and blacks during this time period.  This was just a wonderfully written, fabulous story that made me smile, get choked up, and think hard about the way our country used to be.

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

Bigger than a Bread Box

I saw a review for Bigger than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder on Provo City Library's blog of new books out.  It's about 12-year-old Rebecca whose parents' disagreements lead to her mom taking Rebecca and her brother to Gran's house in Georgia so Mom can "think things through."  Rebecca is furious at her mom for making them leave her dad and is trying to adjust to their (hopefully) temporary stay in Georgia, including going to a new school.  One day Rebecca finds a bread box in Gran's attic and realizes that it grants wishes--anything she asks for suddenly appears, as long as it fits in the bread box.  Rebecca is loving the magic she's found until she realizes that it's not exactly what it seems.

This was a good book. I felt like Rebecca was a really believable character, and I really liked how the book seemed more like a realistic fiction book--just the magic of the bread box thrown in there to make it a little fantastical.  The book was well written and a really nice story that kept me interested.  I wasn't wild about the ending, but I still enjoyed the book.

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

Kisses from Katie

My husband's aunt recommended this book to me, and my mother-in-law gave it to me as a gift for Mother's Day since my library didn't have a copy.  Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis is about Katie, who, after her senior year of high school, put off college to go on a mission trip to Uganda.  She was so moved by what she experienced in Uganda that she knew it was her calling to stay there.  She established a nonprofit organization to feed and educate hundreds of Ugandan children, all while teaching them about Jesus Christ.  Katie also, little by little, adopted 14 children who had no where else to go and now cares for them in Uganda while running her ministry.

This was an incredible story.  I'm rating it as "liked it" because I liked the book, but the organization seemed a little scattered sometimes.  But, I LOVED the story.  Katie's experiences are just amazing--she shares her deep religious values and how she has just accepted God's will for her in her life.  She's given up everything she had in America (family, friends, college opportunity, material things) to live in Uganda and care for so many--all because she knows it's what God wants her to do.  It's amazing to read about how she constantly seeks God's help in her life to know what He would have her do; her spiritual strength is inspiring.  It's also really amazing to read about all the lives she's touched through her desire to just help one person at a time and to just LOVE.  I'd highly recommend this book.  Read more at her blog at kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com or watch this little movie:

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

Palace Beautiful

I saw Palace Beautiful recommended on Shannon Hale's blog and thought it sounded like a good book.  It's about sisters Sadie and Zuzu who move to a new town and find an old journal in a secret room in their attic.  Along with their new friend Bella, they begin to read the entries in the journal and learn about a girl named Helen who lived through the influenza epidemic in their town (and the world) in 1918.  The girls become enthralled by the story and try to find out if Helen survived.

This was a cute story that sparked enough curiosity that I finished the book.  But, I felt like the writing style itself wasn't great.  I felt like a lot of the book was kind of predictable or cliche.  It reminded me of English teachers who say to "show not tell" in your writing because this book seemed to do a lot of telling where I felt like showing would've made it a stronger book.

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

Princess Academy (re-read)

I decided to re-read Princess Academy by Shannon Hale because the sequel is coming out in a few months.  This book is about a girl named Miri who lives in the mountain village of Mount Eskel, far from the palace.  Then one day a messenger comes to their village, announcing that the priests have predicted that the future princess will come from their town.  Soon Miri and the other girls are sent off to a princess academy to prepare to meet the prince.  When danger comes to the academy, Miri has to find a way to use her talents to save her friends.

This is just a wonderful book.  Shannon Hale is a fabulous writer, and her books are just so engaging and beautifully written.  The setting and characters were just described so well that I could really imagine what was going on in the book.  I love the whole plot and just everything about the book.  I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

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

Code Talker

I saw Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac at my parents' house and decided to borrow it.  It is a novel about the Navajo Marines in World War II.  During WWII, Navajos were recruited by the Marines to create and then use a code using the Navajo language.  The code made it possible for the US military to have an unbreakable code to keep their intercepted messages from being understood by the Japanese and other enemies since Navajo was virtually impossible for non-natives to learn.  This book follows sixteen-year-old Ned Begay who joins the cause (a fictional character but based on all real-life events).

This book was really interesting.  I wished there was more on the code talking and less on the war itself, but I guess it makes sense that it was written the way it was.  The Navajo Marines were really in the heaviest fighting of the war even though they were such important resources to the military.  It was really interesting to read about the way Navajos were treated--both positively and negatively--and to see the incredible part they played in WWII.  I would be interested in reading in more detail on just the code talking part of the story.

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

Mockingjay (re-read)

Here's my previous post on Mockingjay, but I think I actually liked the book a lot better the second time around.   I think it helped to know how the series would end; I felt like I could think things through better.  I had a clearer perspective and so just seemed to enjoy the book more.  I felt a lot better about how the author tied things up at the end.

Catching Fire (re-read)

After re-reading The Hunger Games, I had to re-read the rest of the trilogy.  That's what these books do to you.  I already wrote a post about this book on the blog, so I'm not going to write another one.  I just wanted to mention that I read it for the purpose of just keeping track of what I read.

The Hunger Games (re-read)

In preparation for seeing the movie, I decided to re-read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  I summarized this book previously on this blog when I wrote about the sequels, so for a summary, read here.

This book is really an incredible book.  I don't know how the author does it, but this book just consumes you!  I just never wanted to put the book down.  I nearly cried like 5 times in just the first small chunk of the book--the author just creates such deep, compelling characters and situations that I felt completely a part of their world.  This is also one of those books that you keep thinking about even when you're not reading.  Really a fabulous book, so even though I'm not a big re-reader (since there are so many other books out there to read), I'll probably re-read the sequels now too.

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

The Mighty Miss Malone

I saw a book review for The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis in the Washington Post's "Mini Page," which, yes, I still read it on occasion.  I've read some really great books by Christopher Paul Curtis (especially Bud, Not Buddy) and was excited to see he had a new book.  This book is about Deza Malone, a smart, talkative 12-year-old who lives in Gary, Indiana during the Great Depression.  When rough times hit their family, Deza's dad leaves for his hometown in Michigan to try to find work, leaving Deza, her older brother Jimmie, and her mom to wait to hear news and try to make the most of the times they're living in.

This was a fabulous book.  The book was engaging and kept me guessing how things were going to turn out.  Deza is an endearing character whose strong personality just kept me laughing.  She was interesting to follow throughout the book, and I loved her perspective on the things that happened in their lives.  This was also a really good book to get a glimpse into life during the Great Depression.  Another wonderful read by Christopher Paul Curtis.

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

Midnight in Austenland

I'm a big Shannon Hale fan, and even though I didn't love Shannon Hale's book Austenland, I read some sneak peek chapters of Midnight in Austenland and thought it seemed pretty good.  It is about Charlotte, who after her divorce finds solace in Jane Austen books.  Soon she's off to a vacation in England at an estate that reenacts a Jane Austen time period life style, with actors for romantic interests.  She starts getting really into Austenland, but soon there are some mysterious events going on--and she thinks it's murder but doesn't know if it's part of the script or not.

This was a fun read.  Shannon Hale is a really good writer, and Charlotte was a really funny character.  I loved things like her conversations with her Inner Thoughts and also just her character growth throughout the book.  I didn't like, though, like with Austenland, that as a reader, it's hard to tell what's real in her time in Austenland and what's not.  It just makes it hard to make good predictions in the book and to be excited about what is to come.

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

True (...Sort of)

I loved Katherine Hannigan's book Ida B, so I was really excited to see she had a new book out--True (...Sort of).  This book is about Delly, a girl who considers herself all trouble and no good--no matter how hard she tries.  She loves surpresents (presents that are surprises) and feels one on the way on the day a new girl comes to town--Ferris Boyd.  Ferris doesn't speak and cannot be touched, so Delly has no clue how this is supposed to be her surpresent.  But soon Delly realizes that maybe there is a solution to all her trouble.

This was a wonderful book.  Just like in Ida B, I just loved the characters.  Each main character (Delly, Ferris, Brud, RB) have such depth that I just understood them and loved them.  Delly was a hilarious character with a Dellydictionary in the back of the book for all the words she makes up (mysturiosity, chizzle, Dellyday, Dellymergency, etc.).   The story was engaging, and I always wanted to keep reading.  It had lots of great messages but not overdone.  Really enjoyed it.

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

Inside Out & Back Again

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai was a Newbery honor book for 2012.  The book is about 10-year-old Ha who lives in Saigon and loves her home there.  However, when the Vietnam War reaches her home, she and her family board a ship and find refuge in America.  Ha, however, doesn't seem to find much refuge at all and feels that she'd prefer war-ridden Saigon more than her life in Alabama.  The book follows Ha's transition to a new life in America.

The author did a great job really bringing emotion to the story, which was written in free verse rather than traditional paragraphs.  The book was actually quite sad and was based on the author's experience of coming to America as a child from Vietnam.  It reminded me of how mean kids can be to those who are different but also helped me see the goodness of people who accept an opportunity to make a difference.  It was a well written book and a nice story.

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

Breaking Stalin's Nose

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Velchin is a Newbery honor book for 2012.  It is about 10-year-old Sasha living in the Soviet Union who cannot wait to become a Young Pioneer and who idolizes his father, who catches spies for Stalin.  But one night when Sasha's dad suddenly gets arrested, everything Sasha understood about his country becomes different.

This was a pretty short book and included some illustrations throughout.  It was an interesting read but covered such a short time period and such little material that it didn't seem too deep of a read.  (But that probably is what makes it a good book for younger children.)  I liked the perspective of the book and the opportunity to see what Stalin's Soviet Union was like.

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

Half Broke Horses

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls was a book my grandma mentioned awhile back in one of her family letters.  She said it was one of the best books she'd read in awhile, so I decided to read it.  It is the story of the author's grandmother, Lily, a "no-nonsense, resourceful, and spectacularly compelling" woman who grew up on farms and ranches and helped her father break horses starting when she was 6.  She taught school, raised two kids, learned to drive and fly airplanes, helped her husband run a ranch, and endured some tough personal tragedies.

This book was fascinating!  Even though the book is based on memories and accounts and is pretty much the true story of her grandmother, the book is considered fiction since 1) the author had to fill in gaps, and 2) she wrote it in first person to really capture her grandmother's personality.  I just loved reading the book all the way through and was captivated by this woman's life experiences.  It's just so cool to read a book like this where the stuff really happened!  It was one of those books that I kept thinking about even when I wasn't reading it.  Really, this book was such a fun, interesting, intriguing read.  Highly recommended.

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

The Silver Bowl

I saw The Silver Bowl recommended on the Provo City Library's children's book review blog I read.  It is about Molly, who as a young child is sent away by her father to work at the castle as a maid.  After some time, Molly is promoted to polish the castle's silver, but soon she finds that one silver bowl speaks to her--and she can see visions of terrible things happening to the royal family.  She enlists her friend Tobias to help her find a way to save the prince.

This was a fun read with an interesting and engaging plot and great characters.  There were lots of adventures and surprises, and it also had so many sweet parts that just endeared me to Molly and Tobias.  The only thing I didn't like was that the book didn't seem to address passing time very well.  For example, sometimes at the beginning, I got confused because several years would pass without the book making it very clear.

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

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!  Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schiltz was the Newbery medal winner a few years back.  It is a series of monologues, stories told by children characters within a manor in Medieval times--some are nobility, others are paupers.  The author wanted to create a play about Medieval times for children at her school, but no child wanted a small part--so she created a play where each character had a long monologue.  The book follows each character in a little snippet of his/her life, and some of the characters' lives overlap.

This was such a cool book!  I could totally see myself getting a class set of this book when I taught school; it would've been so cool to perform this with a group of 5th graders.  I think we would have had a lot of fun with it.  The book was interesting, and it was easy to learn a lot about Medieval times without even realizing it.  The characters were unique/entertaining/special/intriguing, and it was just a fun read.

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

Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants

I found Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants by Lee Goldberg at the library after enjoying another Mr. Monk book.  This one is about Mr. Monk and his assistant Natalie who unexpectedly run into Mr. Monk's former assistant, Sharona.  Mr. Monk hasn't seen her since she left, and Natalie has never met her.  Even though there is some tension at first, soon, the three of them are working together on a case where Sharona's ex-husband is the prime suspect.

This was another fun book.  I love how well the author captures Mr. Monk, and that is what makes it an enjoyable read.  I did feel like this story was a little predictable, but it was still a good book.

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

Dead End in Norvelt

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos is the 2012 Newbery medal winner.  It's about Jack, who lives in the small, literally-dying-off town of Norvelt in Pennsylvania and has a constant bloody nose.  When he gets grounded for the summer and is stuck in his house all day long, Jack starts enjoying the one outing his mom allows--helping old Miss Volker.  Miss Volker, the town medical examiner, soon finds herself very busy as all the Norvelt originals start dying off, and Jack finds himself very involved as he works as Miss Volker's scribe as she prepares the obituaries.

This was an interesting book--lots of history tied in to it.  (Norvelt is an actual small town that was named for Eleanor Rooselvelt, who had great interest in the town when it was created as part of the New Deal during the Great Depression.)  The author put in lots of detail, so it was fun to follow Jack's adventures and to imagine what life was like for him in Norvelt.  I didn't feel like the plot was particularly strong or engaging, but the characters were definitely original and entertaining.

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

Mr. Monk on the Couch

When I saw this book--Mr. Monk on the Couch by Lee Goldberg--in the new book section at the library, I was thrilled!  It is an original mystery series based on the Monk TV show.  The books (there are already like 10ish) are written by a guy who was a screenwriter for the TV show.  This book takes place shortly after the final episode of Monk and follows Natalie and Monk as they help Captain Stottlemeyer with a series of murders that seem to be related to a secondhand couch.  Along the way, Natalie also becomes interested in a case regarding a man who died of natural causes with an unknown identity, and she decides to do some investigating herself.

This book was great!  I was especially happy to get into a good book since I had just started and then stopped two different John Grisham books.  (Both got a little too sketchy once I was partway in.)  I LOVED the Monk TV series and always think about how sad I am it had to end.  Now I can continue to enjoy Monk's awesomeness in these books!  The author did a fabulous job capturing the characters and putting in little details so I could picture just how they were acting.  The book got me to laugh out loud, and it was just a fun read.  It felt like watching the show again.  Yay.


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

Speak

I saw Speak at the library and noticed it was a best-seller by Laurie Halse Anderson, an author whose historical fiction books I love.  Speak is a story about a very sensitive subject--rape.  The story is from Melinda's point of view, and it follows her during her freshman year of high school after a disastrous party that happened the summer before.  The book tells of Melinda's struggle to understand what happened to her and her journey to find courage to speak out.

This was a very powerful story.  In the author's note, the author points out that this topic is one that is often not addressed appropriately for teenagers; I thought this book did a great job of bringing to light the seriousness of this issue in an appropriate way.  (It shares facts at the end that 1 in 6 American women will be the victim of an attempted or completed rape, and half of them are under the age of 18.  And, experts estimate that only about 16% of rapes are actually reported to police.)  The point of view of the book was very strong, and it was easy to relate to the main character.  The book also made me really appreciate good teachers and true friends.  It was quite a depressing book throughout, obviously, so that made it hard to really love the book--but it was a good read with a strong message about overcoming obstacles.

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

The Testament

I wanted to read more John Grisham books and had The Testament recommended to me.  It is about billionaire Troy Phelan who has 3 ex-wives and numerous children--all anxious to get his money as soon as he dies.  Troy has a better plan than giving his money to his selfish, reckless descendants--he writes a secret will, gives it to his attorney, Josh, and then commits suicide.  The new will leaves all his money to an illegitimate daughter--a young woman named Rachel, serving somewhere in Brazil as a Christian missionary to Indians.  Josh sends his lawyer friend (and recovering alcoholic) to Brazil to track Rachel down, while the rest of Troy's descendants and their lawyers fight the new will.

This was another really great book.  The story was really compelling, and it also had a great message of change and redemption.  I loved the characters, and the plot kept me guessing.  Unfortunately, I didn't love the ending; I was just bummed about how it turned out.  But, I do have to give John Grisham credit because even though I didn't like the end, he left no questions unanswered.  I have felt that in all his books--he's really a master at addressing every detail.  In my reading, I tend to consider a lot of what-ifs, and he seems to just cover everything, so I never am left wondering.  Another good book!

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

Beauty

I read Beauty by Robin McKinley because of recommendations from friends.  It is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and tells of Beauty, who considers herself quite plain, especially compared to her older sisters. When Beauty and her family have to leave their life in the city, they find themselves living a very different life in a small village.  One day Beauty's father is out on a journey, and when he picks a rose for Beauty, he finds that he has stolen a rose from a beast, who requires one of his daughters as payment.  It is Beauty who volunteers to go to the beast in order to save her father's life.

This was a great book.  I haven't read a book quite like this in a long time, and I can't place exactly what made it different.  But, I liked how the entire book was from an all-telling Beauty's point of view.  It made it interesting and exciting to follow her throughout the book.  The only thing I didn't like about the book was that I knew the story of Beauty and the Beast.  That made it so at the beginning, I was just waiting for the connection to the fairy tale, and then toward the end, I knew how it would all pan out.  But, I liked the differences to the story I was familiar with, and I think the author wrote the story very well.  The book was filled with detail, but other times, it skipped right to the part of the story that mattered--and that made it a nice read.  And I loved the ending.  :)

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

A Single Shard

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park is a Newbery Medal winner.  It is about Tree-ear, an orphan in 12th century Korea who lives under a bridge with his guardian, Crane-man.  Tree-ear loves to watch Min, a town potter, create his beautiful work.  Soon, Tree-ear finds himself as Min's apprentice and then on a journey to bring Min's finest work to the city in hopes that Min can be assigned a royal commission.

This was a really good book.  It took me a bit to get into it, but then it was a really nice story with beautiful language and great character relationships.  It was a simple book but a good one.

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

The Client

After reading John Grisham's two books for young adults, I decided to move up in the world to his adult books.  The Client is about 11-year-old Mark who, along with his 8-year-old brother Ricky, witnesses an attorney commit suicide.  Before the attorney commits the act, he confesses to Mark some secrets about his client--a mafia member accused of murder.  Soon, Ricky is in the psychiatric ward from the trauma, and the police start asking Mark questions about what happened.  Mark realizes that he has to find a lawyer and has to figure out what to do with the information he has before the mafia finds him.

This was a really great book.  I loved the main characters (Mark and his lawyer, Reggie) so much.  I loved how well developed the characters were.  The book got me to laugh, got me a little choked up, but mainly got me completely, continually freaked out due to the awesome plot twists.  I kept wondering how the book was going to keep the story going for the length of the whole book, but it did it--and it did it well.  I also liked how the book covered the points of view of lots of characters. The only downside (another reason why I tend to prefer young adult/children's literature) was a bit of language.  And there were a few parts where I questioned if it really would've happened the way it did....but hey, it's fiction.  I think I will start reading a lot more of John Grisham's books, so if you're reading this, and you've read some and have a favorite, let me know.

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

The Maze of Bones

I've heard a lot about the 39 Clues series, so I decided to read the first book, The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (who also happens to be an author I really like).  It is about Dan and Amy Cahill who are raised by their great-aunt since their parents died years earlier.  When their grandmother dies and leaves behind a mysterious will, Dan and Amy decide to accept a challenge rather than $1 million.  The challenge will leave them (and other family members, their competition) to find 39 clues, which will apparently lead them to the most powerful treasure in the world.

I'm surprised that I didn't really enjoy this book too much.  I love Rick Riordan's other books, and this series is so popular, I expected to be really into it.  But, I just felt like the characters weren't super well developed, so I couldn't build the connection with them that I wanted to.  That led to me feeling like parts of the story were just unrealistic.  I think the plot is a fun idea, but it just dragged on with a lot of searching for clues without any idea about where this is going to lead.  I did think the book was kind of interesting with lots of connections to Benjamin Franklin and his history.  I wouldn't consider it a wasted read, but it wasn't my kind of book.

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

Theodore Boone: The Abduction

After reading John Grisham's first book about Theodore Boone, I went to the library to get the newest one: Theodore Boone: The Abduction.  In this book, Theo's best friend April (who has a very dysfunctional family) suddenly disappears and is presumed kidnapped.  Theo and his friends form their own search parties to help find her, but when the police suddenly find a body in the river, Theo realizes that everything is not as hopeful as he thought.

This was another really engaging book--a super quick read because it kept me interested.  I enjoyed the plot and the characters.  I probably liked this book slightly less than the first one, but it was still great.

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

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

I saw Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham on the New York Times bestseller list at the library, and it sparked my interest.  This book is about 13-year-old Theo who loves visiting the courthouse and watching judges and lawyers in action.  He keeps his own office in a storage closet at his parents' law office, and he helps kids at his school with questions related to the law.  Theo is thrilled to be able to watch parts of a criminal trial in his town--a man accused of killing his wife.  It looks like the man is going to go free, but suddenly Theo is given some information that would prove the man's guilt.  It is up to Theo to decide what to do.

This book was awesome!  If all John Grisham's books are this good, I'm converted.  It was completely engaging, with exciting twists, totally believable characters, and a fabulous storyline. I also learned a ton about the judicial system while reading, which was fascinating.  So glad I found this book!

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

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

Yes, I still read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney.  This latest book is about Greg and his family during the holiday season and the huge snowstorm that gets them stranded in their house.

This was another funny book, a few parts getting me to chuckle out loud.  Greg is just a hilarious character, and it's just entertaining to read what happens to him and his perspective on things.  Not much more to say about it, but it's such a quick read, that I don't even feel that bad about spending my time reading it.

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

Nory Ryan's Song

After really enjoying a book by Patricia Reilly Giff last week, I looked for more books by her at the library and found Nory Ryan's Song.  This book is about Nory and her family who live in Ireland in the mid-1800s.  Money is tight, and they are at the mercy of the English government--expected to pay rent each month no matter what.  Things go terribly wrong when the potato crop suddenly goes bad.  Soon Nory (and all her neighbors) completely run out of food and are desperate to survive.

This was a very well written book (great language), and it was fascinating to learn about this time (the Great Hunger of 1845-1852) in Ireland that I really know nothing about.  It was even neater to read in the author's note at the end that 6 of the author's 8 grandparents lived through the famine and then came to America--but none of them really spoke of that time in their lives.  So, the author went to Ireland, researched, and wrote this novel.  The book was almost too sad to really enjoy--just a lot of bad things happening and not much good.  But, I'm still glad I read it.

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

Kira-Kira

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata was the Newbery medal winner in 2005.  This book is about Katie, a Japanese-American girl who adores her older sister Lynn.  When Katie's parents have to close their grocery store, the family moves to Georgia where the parents work long hours at menial jobs to help the family save money for a house.  Soon Lynn gets very sick, and Katie is full of questions but is given no answers--but tries to use Lynn's optimism to keep the family together.

This was a very well written book--made me laugh out loud but also made me cry (ie., bawl my eyes out).   There is a strong plot, and I loved how the book was written from Katie's point of view.  It's just great to read a book that really captures a child's point of view.  The only downside to this book is that there was a little bit of language and some references to inappropriate things, so I wouldn't really consider this a children's book even though I think that's its intended audience.

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

R My Name is Rachel

I saw R My Name is Rachel in the new book section at the library and recognized the author, Patricia Reilly Giff, as one I've liked in the past.  This book takes place during the Great Depression where 12-year-old Rachel lives with her dad and younger brother and sister in the city.  When her dad loses his job but gets a chance to work out in a town in the country, they move to a run-down farm house.  Even worse for readaholic Rachel, the town school is closed because they can't afford a teacher.   When the job doesn't work out and Pop has to leave the kids alone in search of work, things move from bad to worse--but Rachel and her siblings find a way to make the most of what they have.

This was a quick read and just a wonderful book.  I love this author's language and descriptions, and Rachel was a wonderful and relate-able character.  (And I loved all the other characters too.)  It was a great book to put a face on what the Great Depression was like, and the book was just full of detail.  Loved it!

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

I, Coriander

I got the book I, Coriander by Sally Gardner from a student when I taught school, and for some reason, I never got to reading it until now.  It's the story of Coriander, a young girl in England in the 1600s, whose mother dies, and then a few years later, her father disappears.  She's left with her evil stepmother and an even evil-er preacher, but she soon finds an escape into another world where she discovers that her mother had been a fairy princess.

This was a nice read--well written, thoughtful language and great characters; I loved the ones I was supposed to love and just despised the ones I was supposed to despise.  I also liked the historical background in the book (Oliver Cromwell, etc.).  The only downside to the book was that I didn't love the parts of the book where she went to the other world--maybe because it reminded me of some not-as-enjoyable books I've read where similar events take place.

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