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)