Parallel Journeys

I saw Parallel Journeys by Eleanor Aver at my friend's house and borrowed it.  It is the true story of two young people who lived in Germany during WWII and the Holocaust--Helen Waterford, a Jew forced into hiding and then Auschwitz, and Alfons Heck, a fanatic member of the Hitler Youth.  The author uses Helen's and Alfons's real words and experiences, alternating throughout the book, to present a picture of the nightmare of this time period.

This was a very fascinating book.  I love books about the Holocaust because I want to acknowledge what happened and remember those who suffered, even if it's only by reading their stories.  It is unreal to think of all that Helen and the other Jews went through.  It was also very interesting to read Alfons's point of view and see what it was like to have been a teenager brainwashed by Hitler.  I found out in the end of the book that Helen and Alfons ended up meeting many years later in the US and began public speaking together on their experiences. This was a great read.

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

The 5 Love Languages

I saw The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman on a shelf at my friend's house and decided to borrow it.  The love languages concept is something I've heard about a lot, but I had never read the book.  Gary Chapman, a marriage counselor, outlines in the book why marriages often do not last--that we don't speak each other's love languages.  He explains the 5 love languages (words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, physical touch) and how to strengthen your marriage.

This was a really enlightening book.  The author made a lot of really good points, and I totally believe what he shares.  A love language is basically how you feel love. So if you feel love from acts of service, but your spouse shows his love to you by giving words of affirmation, you won't feel as loved as you would have with acts of service.  The author explains that some people don't feel loved in their marriage, but if the spouse focuses on the correct love language, love returns.  It's simple yet totally makes sense.  I enjoyed the read and the personal experiences he shared and though it was a worthwhile book.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Dust of Eden

I was looking for a book to read at the library and saw Dust of Eden by Mariko Nagai in the new book shelf in the children's section.  This book is about middle schooler Mina Tagawa whose life gets turned upside down in December 1941 when Pearl Harbor is attacked.  Just because her family is Japanese, her father is arrested, her classmates are calling her "Jap," and her family is eventually sent to an internment camp.  The book follows Mina during the difficult times that follow.

This was a great book and a super quick read. (I finished it during Emmeline's 1-hour dance class.)  This is another novel written in verse, which I've mentioned before is something I really like.  I also really like historical fiction, particularly books from the WWII time period.  The book was interesting and inspiring as I got to know Mina and her different family members and friends and saw how they handled the situations they went through.  Reading about the internment camps and the terrible way the Japanese were treated after Pearl Harbor just reminded me of the importance of kindness no matter what.  This was a beautiful read.

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

Mockingjay

I re-read Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins in preparation for the movie coming out and really enjoyed it.  I've reviewed it before on the blog, so I'm mentioning it here only for the purpose of keeping track of my reading.

The Lightning Dreamer

I saw The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist in a pile of used books for sale at the library.  It caught my eye because (1) it looked brand new, (2) it had a beautiful cover and an "Honor Book" award on it, (3) the summary inside the book jacket looked intriguing, and (4) the book was written in verse.  Needless to say, I paid the $1 and bought the book.  This book is based on the life of Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda, known as Tula, a young woman in Cuba in the 1800s.  She became an abolitionist and poet and spoke up from a young age against slavery and spoke for women's rights.  This book tells her story as she courageously speaks up for the basic rights she feels that she and those around her deserve.

This was a super quick read (like 20 minutes) but a really good book.  I knew nothing about Tula or about Cuba during this time period, so I felt like the book educated and inspired me while also being beautifully written.  (I love books written in verse.)  I think it's great to be reminded that there were times and places where women were not supposed to read or think or make choices; it just helps me remember how blessed we are to live with freedoms.  I also loved that Tula valued books and reading (since she was not supposed to read).  Part of the book reads Books are door-shaped / portals / carrying me / across oceans / and centuries, / helping me feel / less alone. or Each day, after my lessons, the nuns / let me visit their marvelous library, / where I feel as if I have entered / heaven on earth.  Beautiful.

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

Rain Reign

A month or so ago, I randomly saw an article on cnn.com about a new book Ann M. Martin was writing--Rain Reign--about a girl with high-functioning autism.  I was intrigued, so I put the book on hold at the library.  The book is about Rose, a fifth grader who loves homonyms, rules, and her dog, Rain.  When a big hurricane hits Rose's town, Rain goes missing, and Rose works to handle the change of routine as well as the loss of her dog.

I really liked this book.  I've enjoyed lots of books written from the point of view of children with disabilities or disorders, and this one was another great one.  Rose was a wonderful, likable, believable character, and I liked that the book wasn't completely predictable.  The book was well-written and had lots of good imagery.  A good read.  I got teary-eyed, and I'm not even a dog person--a dog-lover would probably enjoy this book even more.

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

Gifted Hands

I decided to read Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (written by Ben Carson) after Elder Tad R. Callister talked about Ben Carson's childhood in a talk at my church's General Conference.  In this book, Ben Carson tells his life story--how he went from poverty in inner-city Detroit as a child to the head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins when he was only 33.

This was a really amazing book.  I loved how Ben Carson showed how his mother's motivation and encouragement gave him the courage to find success against all odds. Ben Carson chose to make something out of his life, and by his choices, he became a world-renowned surgeon who has saved the lives of many, many children. The book outlined some examples of his cases--totally amazing and inspiring. The book was also quite religious, which I had not expected.  Ben Carson is a strong Christian, and he had some amazing experiences in his life that really show how God knows and cares about us as individuals. Overall, I was just really impressed by Ben Carson--he seems like a really good guy. This was a beautiful and inspiring read.

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

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

I somehow heard about Malcolm Gladwell's books--possibly initially through the New York Times Best-seller List--and decided to read David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants.  This is a nonfiction book that integrates psychology, history, and other resources to prove the author's idea that disadvantages in life may actually be advantages.

This was a pretty interesting book--especially at the beginning.  (I was really engaged in the first few sections, but I started losing interest and getting confused by how things came together as the book went on.)  I was fascinated by some of the research he presented and by the idea that bad things that happen in people's lives can often shape them into something better than they could have become otherwise.  It just helped me look at things in a different way.  I'm glad I read the book, and I will probably read more of his books.

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

Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig

I randomly read something about Lou Gehrig recently, and even though I already knew the basics about him, it sparked my interest.  I found Luckiest Man by Jonathan Eig (a biography of Lou Gehrig) at the library.  It tells about his rough beginning, his dedicated mother, his involvement in baseball, his time with the Yankees, his relationship with Babe Ruth, and his sudden downfall and subsequent diagnosis with ALS.

This was a wonderful, beautiful book.  It gave me so much respect for Lou Gehrig as a baseball player and as a person.  He was an incredible man who seemed to make the most of his life and appreciate every day he had--even before the terrible diagnosis.  Jonathan Eig is a great writer--biographies can be incredibly boring, but this one was entertaining, enlightening, and heart-wrenching.  I'm so glad I read this book.  I loved the last line in the book--"ALS is a disease of weakness, but Lou Gehrig's disease is associated with strength--the strength of a stricken man who said he felt lucky."

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

Another Day as Emily

I saw Another Day as Emily by Eileen Spinelli on the shelf of new children's books at the library, and it looked like a good one.  It is about a girl named Suzy whose summer does turn out like she wants it to when she gets ignored and her 4-year-old brother is suddenly labeled a local hero after calling 911 when the neighbor collapses.  Then her birthday gets ruined and she doesn't get a part in the neighborhood play.  Luckily she has Tween Time at the library, where she learns about Emily Dickinson.  Suzy decides that Emily had the right idea about being a recluse, so Suzy begins dressing in white dresses, staying in her room, and corresponding via only letters.

This was a fun read.  It was written in verse, which I always enjoy in books.  I thought the story was cute, and I liked Suzy and the other distinct characters (Gilbert, Alison, Mrs. Harden).  It was a really quick read which not much depth beyond the regular storyline, but I liked it.

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

Son

I've been aiming to read Son by Lois Lowry for forever and finally got to it.  This is the conclusion to the books that go along with The Giver, and it brings together the other three.  It tells the story of Claire, a young girl who was assigned to be a Birth Mother in her community until things went very wrong.  Later she finds herself outside of the community with no memory except a yearning for her son.

This was a really neat book.  I loved reading it as it pulled together the characters and worlds in the The Giver, Gathering Blue, and The Messenger.  Claire was such a lovable character, and I loved watching her transformation and her relationship with Einar.  I also just loved how everything concluded and wished there was more to the ending.  I think this series by Lois Lowry is just really fun--they are unique stories that keep me interested and wanting to read more throughout every book.

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

In a Heartbeat

My parents gave me In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy awhile back, and I just got around to reading it.  It is the story of the couple featured in the movie The Blind Side--in their own words.  The book shares their backgrounds and the circumstances that led to them welcoming Michael Oher to their family.  There are also brief chapters from the Tuohy children, Sandra Bullock, and Tim McGraw.  The book tells the story but also teaches lessons in parenting, love, and giving.  The books starts with a quote from Anne Frank that defines the entire book: "No one has ever become poor by giving."

I really enjoyed this book.  It kept me interested throughout the whole read, and I thought it really taught me a lot and inspired me to be more giving.  I think I'm always waiting for the right time to start donating to a cause, but if I wait till that abstract time, I will miss out on many opportunities right here and now.  I loved hearing about things like how they gave Christmas gifts to the garbage man, or paid to get a kid at the private school free lunch every day, or paid bills for a friend in need.  Giving is just a beautiful thing.  The authors emphasized that we don't have to look hard for a "cause"--the people in need are right in front of us, and we just have to respond to what we see.

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



Some quotes from the book that stood out to me:

• "True character was about how we treated people."
• "God gave us problems to see how we would handle them. And He gave us difference to see if we could learn to live with one another."
• "A person's true character is judged by how he acts and reacts to someone who has no consequence in his life whatsoever."
• "Along with a larger income came larger responsibilities....'To whom much is given much is required'....God gave us what we have to see what we're going to do with it."
• "We too often confuse the power of giving with the effectiveness of giving. Giving was powerful by itself; it needed no help from the recipient to be meaningful. Giving worked on the giver's heart and made it expand; that was the most important thing. What the recipient did with the gift--whether he used it to change the world or buy whiskey--was up to him. If what we gave went down a hole, then that was on the head and heart of the person on the receiving end of the gift. God would judge his heart, and that was His responsibility, not ours....My responsibility is to be happy with the act of giving, without expecting a result."
• "It's easy to be nice to George Bush. But the guy who cuts George Bush's yard, that's the one you're supposed to be nice to. Because not everyone is going to be nice to him."
• "Giving didn't always have to be tangible. It was just as important to give passion, time, faith, encouragement, or exposure to something new."
• "God puts things and people in your life for a reason. Usually it's to show you a path. And this clearly was a path that our family needed to go down."

Wonder

I re-read Wonder by R.J. Palacio just because I recommended it to some friends recently.  My friends were reading it and making comments about it, and I decided I wanted to read it again.  I stand by my original review that said I LOVED this book.  It is just a beautiful read--it made me laugh, cry, and think hard about being kinder, better person.  This is probably one of my top favorite books of all time, and that is saying a lot.  :)  Please read it!  And have your kids read it!

Messenger

I've been meaning to read the rest of The Giver companion books for awhile but finally got around to it and read Messenger by Lois Lowry.  (Connor and I read The Giver and Gathering Blue together months ago but never got to the last two, so I'm just reading them on my own.)  Messenger follows Matty from Gathering Blue in his new village, which accepts the outsiders from villages everywhere else.  The community is a happy, welcoming place, but suddenly things start to change--people are trading away the deepest parts of themselves, and the forest is thickening.  While Matty notices all of this, he also notices a new, powerful gift in himself.

This was a really good read.  It was a quick read--I finished the entire book while Emmeline was at preschool.  I was very interested in the story and characters and didn't want to stop reading.  The end was getting so intense that I kept wanting to peek ahead to see what was going to happen (but I didn't).  I thought it was a beautiful story of sacrifice while also being heart-breaking.  I also loved how the book connected back to the characters from The Giver.  I'm now really excited to read the fourth companion book, The Son.

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

In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms

My friend lent me In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger.  This book points out the benefits to being a stay-at home mom and helps the reader feel confident in that choice.

This was an interesting read.  I think it could be extremely offensive to people who don't agree with her point of view or who cannot be a stay-at-home mom, but for me, it basically said things I already agree with.  It did help me think of things in different ways.  (For example, sometimes I fall into the rut of wishing I did more with my life or had a job or something.  But she explains how being a stay-at-home mom can be completely fulfilling and satisfying on its own.)  I think it also helped me see how I can make my marriage and family stronger by handling things a little better.  I realized that as a stay-at-home mom, it is my job to create a home with peace, happiness, love, and joy--and I need to make the choice to do that.

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

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy is the second book in the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter.  Again, it follows Cammie at her school, a school for spies.  As the new semester begins, Cammie has promised her mom (the headmaster) that she will follow the rules and not sneak around, but soon there are some mysteries that she and her friends can't help but try to uncover.

Just like the first book in the series, I enjoyed the read.  It was fun, quick, and clean.  The author keeps you reading with enough unsolved situations, but I never felt annoyed by what I was waiting to figure out. I think this series has a fun storyline, and I'll probably read more.

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

The One

I've been anxiously awaiting this book--The One, the last book in The Selection series by Kiera Cass. I'd been on hold at the library for quite awhile, but then a friend bought the series and lent me the book. This book follows America as she competes in the Selection to try to become Prince Maxon's choice for his wife.  (I won't elaborate since it's book three in the series, but check back to look at book 1's description.)

This was a really fun read.  I really enjoyed reading and was super addicted from the very start.  (I finished the book in one day.)  I loved seeing how the series would conclude and being a part of the chick flick-ish story.  It was one of those books that I felt like was going on without me when I had to take a break from reading.  While I really liked the book, I also felt like everything in the end happened super fast.  I don't know if that was really the book's fault, or if I was just reading way too fast because I was too anxious to see how things would turn out.  I also felt like some character development was kind of glossed over (like anything about America's mom), but that could also be just because I read it way too fast.  :)  A great book and fun series.

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

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

I'd had the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter recommended to me for awhile, but every time I looked at the first book--I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You--I'd be turned off by the title and cover.  (Totally lame that I was judging a book by it's cover, I know.  But it just seemed really teeny-bopper-ish.)  But I really needed a book to read, and a friend recommended it again, so I decided to try it this time.  The book is about Cammie, a teenage girl who attends the Gallagher Academy.  Outsiders think it's a snotty prep school for rich girls, but Cammie and the other students are really part of a school for geniuses learning to be spies.  When Cammie accidentally meets an ordinary boy outside the school walls, she decides to just pretend to be an ordinary girl.  Their relationship grows, but Cammie has to keep up with the lies.

This was a really fun read.  It was totally teenager-y and chick flick-y, but I enjoyed it.  I was really rooting for Cammie and Josh's cute relationship and wanted it to work out.  The plot and characters were very entertaining.  I would read more books in the series next time I need a book to read.  (The book was also clean/appropriate, so I like that I could recommend it without reservation to teenage girls I know.)

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

"The President Has Been Shot!"

I saw "The President Has Been Shot!": The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by James L. Swanson at the library and thought it would be an interesting read, especially because I really like US history.  It is a nonfiction narrative (written for young adults) about the background, presidency, and assassination of President Kennedy.

This was a fascinating book.  I learned a lot and was completely interested throughout the book.  I also found the book to be very inspiring.  (For example, for JFK's funeral, his wife led a procession by foot from the White House to the cathedral.  The Secret Service asked Lyndon Johnson--the new president--to ride in a car because it was too dangerous and they didn't want to lose another president.  But Johnson refused and said, "I would rather give my life than be afraid to give it.")  I felt like the book had lots of tidbits like that that just pointed out the inspiring things various people did.  I really liked the positive feel of the book, especially in that it didn't focus on JFK's affairs, which I know is often talked about with him.  I also liked how the book focused on the most-accepted theory of the assassination (Oswald as a single gunman) rather than delving into all the other theories and conspiracies.  I wouldn't have been as interested in all that.  The book, clear by its subject matter, was sad and hard to read at times, but it was a really great read.

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

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

When I visited my mom a few months ago, she was getting rid of some books, so I took a few that looked good to me--including The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith.  This book is about Precious Ramotswe who uses her inheritance to start a new business--a detective agency near her home in Africa.  She slowly builds up her business and solves cases of missing husbands, wayward daughters, conmen, and other mysteries brought to her by her friends and neighbors.

This was a really fun book.  Once I got into it, it was an enjoyable read.  There was a case introduced early in the book that wasn't solved till the end, so that kept me interested as I followed all the other cases in between.  Mma Ramotswe was an entertaining and likable character, so it was fun to be part of her world throughout the book.  This was kind of a fluff read, but I liked it and would read more in the series next time I don't have a book to read.

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

Almost Home

Almost Home by Joan Bauer has been on my to-read list for awhile (but I can't remember where I heard about this book).  This is the story of Sugar Mae Cole, who has so much going for her when she and her mom lose their home.  Sugar's dad is in and out and can't be trusted, and when Sugar's mom breaks down under the stress of being homeless, Sugar finds herself in a foster home.  But as Sugar pours her heart out into her poetry and comes to love the many trustworthy people around her, she finds there is still good in the world and great hope for her future.

This was a quick read (I started and finished in one day) but a beautiful book.  Sugar is a well-developed character who is real and lovable, and the plot kept me interested the whole time.  The author is obviously a really great author.  (She's also the author of a Newbery book called Hope Was Here, which I don't think I've read--so I will definitely plan to read it.) This book helped me get in the mind of those who are homeless or in foster care and how there is always so much more to their stories.

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

The Boy on the Porch

I saw The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech on the NPR list of best books of 2013.  Sharon Creech is a great children's author whose books I've read before, so I got this book at the library.  This book tells the story of John and Marta--a childless couple who one day finds a 6- or 7-year-old boy on their porch.  The boy doesn't speak, but he has a note that tells John and Marta, "Take care of Jacob; we'll be back for him."  As John and Marta take Jacob under their wing, he blossoms with a gift for music and art, and they come to love him--and begin to worry about when or if someone will come back to get him.

This was a really sweet read, and I love how the book concluded.  I just loved the great life that John and Marta built for little Jacob and how they opened their hearts so willingly.  This book was short and simple, but it was a beautiful story.

Rating: * * (2/3 =  Liked it)

Counting by 7s

I saw Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan on NPR's list of best kids' books for 2013, and it looked interesting to me.  This book is about Willow Chance, a 12-year-old genius who is fascinated by plants and gardening, diseases, and the number 7.  When a terrible tragedy completely changes her world, Willow must come to terms with her new reality and find real friends for the first time.

This was a great book.  I was very into it and had to stay up a little late and then spend my morning reading to finish it.  Willow was a fascinating, entertaining, and endearing character, and I loved all the other side characters' uniqueness as well.  The plot was engaging, and I liked how the point of view focused on Willow but also let the reader into the minds of the other characters throughout the book as well.  The book made me laugh aloud but also feel deeply for Willow in her sorrow.  I really enjoyed this book.  I was just reading some reviews of the book on Amazon, and I liked one thing one reviewer said: "I could point to many instances in the plot that were contrived, when events relied just a bit too much on coincidence to be believable, and when things work out just a bit too easy. To do so would be to deny the slight touch of magic that seems to permeate these pages."  So true!  The way things fell into place in this book just made it all-the-more beautiful.

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

Flora and Ulysses

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo is the Newbery Medal winner for 2014.  It is about 11-year-old cynic Flora who loves comic books.  One day she sees her neighbor outside with an extreme vacuum cleaner, and Flora witnesses a squirrel get vacuumed up.  After Flora does CPR (learned from the Terrible Things Can Happen To You comic strip she follows) on the squirrel, she realizes that the squirrel has been changed--and is now a superhero.  The book follows Flora as she builds a relationship with the squirrel (Ulysses), tries to protect the squirrel from her mother (probably Ulysses's archnemesis), and meets lots of friends along the way.

This book is so, so, SO weird but somehow also engaging, entertaining, and heart-warming.  Kate DiCamillo is an awesome author. (I have loved several of her books--Tale of Despereaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane are two of them.) This book had a familiar writing style to me since I've read her books before, and it was (obviously) super well written.  The characters were all so well developed and interesting.  There could be fascinating books written about almost all of the side characters as main characters (Dr. Meescham, Tootie, William Spiver, even Flora's parents).  Flora was a likable, relatable girl, and Ulysses was an unlikely hero.  I enjoyed the book.  The weirdness distracted me a little bit (since I kept stopping reading to comment to myself about how odd it was), but I think kids would find this book hilarious.  I think even Emmeline would love the humor in this book, but the vocabulary in the book is more upper elementary, so we'll wait.

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

The Year of Billy Miller

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes is a 2014 Newbery Honor Book, and I'm working on reading all the 2014 Newberys right now.  This book is about second grader Billy Miller and his interactions with his teacher (part 1), dad (part 2), sister (part 3), and mom (part 4).  From making a diorama for school to dealing with his crying little sister to wanting to stay up super late, Billy is just your typical, likable kid.

This was a quick, cute read.  It was written for a much younger audience than books I usually read.  (This is a lower elementary book--like first through third grade readers.)  I only read it because it's a Newbery, and I have a goal to just read as many of them as possible.  It was a well-written book and a cute story, but I didn't really feel like I got much out of it...most likely since it was written for 7-year-olds.  :) There just wasn't any big climax or conflict or anything; rather, it was just more focused on Billy's day-to-day life.  But I think it will be a cute book to recommend to or read aloud with Emmeline when she's a little older.

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

Paperboy

I saw Paperboy by Vince Vawter on the new children's book shelf at the library a couple months ago and checked it out, but I never got around to reading it.  Then the 2014 Newbery Medal and Honor winners were announced last month, and Paperboy was one of the honor winners.  So, I got the book from the library again and read it this time.  :)  The book tells the story of an 11-year-old boy with a stuttering problem.  When he takes over his friend's paper route for the summer, he experiences new situations and new interactions and begins to find himself.

This was a really nice read.  It was slower for me to get through at times, but I felt like it really did put me in the mind of this sweet, smart 11-year-old.  He had so much he felt and so much he wanted to say, but there was so little he could actually articulate without difficulty.  This book reminded me of books I've read in the past like Out of My Mind or Wonder, where a child who never really expresses him/herself shares his/her mind through the book.  I didn't love Paperboy quite as much as those two books, but I liked reading it.  I was especially touched when I read the Author's Note at the end of the book and realized that this book was more of a memoir than fiction--the author himself has stuttered since he was 5 years old (more than 60 years of stuttering).  He writes, "Have I been cured of my stutter? No. Have I overcome it? Yes." That was the message from the book itself--you aren't defined by your limitations.  A beautiful message.

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

The Color of Water

I saw The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother in a pile of books my mom was giving away.  My sister said she had read it as an assignment in high school or college, and after reading the back, I was intrigued and decided to read it.  It is a memoir written by James McBride about his mother.  He grew up knowing his mother was different--he and most of his community was black, but his mother was white.  Not until he was an adult did James learn about his mother's past--growing up in a Jewish family in southern Virginia.  This book tells her story...and his.

This was a really interesting read.  Ruth (James's mother) had a very diverse and fascinating life, and the book kept me reading.  There were some parts that were a little repetitive, and the end dragged on a little,  but otherwise, I really enjoyed reading it and learned a lot.  It exposed me to several different time periods in a couple different places in the US, and I was able to see the racial divide from the point of view of one who was in both worlds.  I was also inspired and touched by all this woman overcame and what amazing children she raised even with so much difficulty. I really enjoyed the book.

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

Serafina's Promise

I saw Serafina's Promise by Ann E. Burg on the shelf of new children's books at the library.  It caught my eye because it was described on the cover as "a novel in verse," and the back cover included a review written by Karen Hesse (whose novel Out of the Dust was written in verse and was one of my favorite books when I was a kid).  This book follows Serafina, a young girl living in Haiti. Her family doesn't have much money, but Serafina dreams of being able to attend school so she can one day become a doctor--just like the woman who once tried to save her baby brother's life.  But Serafina's life is not easy, especially when a huge earthquake hits the city right by her home.

This was a beautifully written book.  It was completely engaging, and Serafina was an inspiring and hope-filled character.  I loved how the book captured the Haitian people and culture.  I also just felt so connected to all of the characters, who were so well-developed.  I really loved reading the book, and I would definitely recommend this quick read to others.

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

The Boy on the Wooden Box

I found this next book on the Provo City Library's children's book blog.  It is called The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the impossible became possible on Schindler's list.  This book is a memoir written by Leon Leyson, a child/teenager who survived the Holocaust.  He and his family lived a happy life in Poland until German soldiers took over and began to send Jews to ghettos and concentration camps.  It wasn't until Leon found himself and some of his family on a list of "necessary" workers--a list created by a Nazi named Oskar Schindler--that Leon realized he had a chance of surviving the war.

This was an amazing story.  Every Holocaust book I read just shocks me as I again realize the absolute horror the Jews had to go through during this terrible time.  Leon was an amazingly strong, brave kid to go through all that he did, and the book also helped me see the heroism of Oskar Schindler--one who did "the best of things in the worst of times."  This was a wonderful book, and I really loved the Afterword with words written by his wife and kids.  I'm so glad I read this book.

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