Young Chapter Books

This is kind of a random post for this blog, but I wanted to write this down to share with others. Starting when Emmeline was 3 and 4, she became interested in longer picture books. I started coming across some simple chapter books that included pictures on every page, and our lives changed. :) We now read lots of books like that, and it's just a great hit for this age range. I feel like a lot of people don't know about these type of books, but it's perfect for kids ages 4-5 and beyond. Here are some of our favorite books and series that fit into this category. Read and enjoy!

• Penny books by Kevin Henkes
• Mercy Watson books by Kate DiCamillo
• Princess in Black books by Shannon Hale
• Mr. and Mrs. Green books by Keith Baker
• Mr. Putter and Tabby books by Cynthia Rylant
• Boris books by Andrew Joyner
• Annie and Snowball books by Cynthia Rylant
• Henry and Mudge books by Cynthia Rylant
• Fly Guy books by Tedd Arnold
• Katie Woo books by Fran Manushkin
• Bink and Gollie books by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
• Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa books by Erica Silverman
• Cornelia and the Great Snake Escape by Pam Munoz Ryan
• Ling and Ting books by Grace Lin
• Monkey and Elephant books by Carole Lexa Shaefer

A lot of these are also great early readers. Now that Emmeline is learning to read, she likes to read some of these series independently. Scholastic has also started a group of books they call "Branches" that are transitional chapter books for new readers. The Boris books we've read for years is part of this. We've also read some of the Owl Diaries books, and Emmeline really likes them. I plan to try out more of these book series as well. http://www.scholastic.com/branches/about.htm

Fractured

I got Fractured, book 2 in the Slated series by Teri Terry, from the library. This book follows Kyla as she is caught between two dangerous adversaries and must decide where she stands. I won't elaborate further as to not give away more of the story, but you can look at the post below for my summary of the first book.

This was another super addicting book. Once I got into it, it was hard to stop reading. This was one of those books I should never read alone--I was completely freaked out by the end and was glad I wasn't home alone. I love Kyla as a character and felt so involved in her life and confused alongside her as she tried to figure out who to trust. I like how the book slowly uncovers more and more unanswered questions, but it has still left much to be discovered in book 3. Sidenote: I also really like this series because the books are pretty clean, though this one did have two swear words as well as a lot of bloodiness. Not for the faint of heart. :)

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

Slated

I had a friend recommend Slated by Teri Terry, so I got it from the library. This book is about 16-year-old Kyla who is re-entering society after being slated--having her memory and personality wiped blank. (The government in this futuristic society takes care of young criminals by slating them.) But as Kyla starts getting used to life with her new family and new school, she finds herself with some memories she shouldn't have and realizes there is another side to everything--and she has to decide whether it's safe to get involved.

This was a super good book. It was extremely addicting and suspenseful, so I was kind of freaking out at times while reading it. I just thought the plot was very unique and clever, and I really loved the main characters, Kyla and Ben. It was fun to follow all of the side characters in the book and to figure out how things were going to play out. The book didn't have a satisfying ending, so I am anxiously awaiting books 2 and 3, which I have on hold at the library. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

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

Theodore Boone: The Fugitive

I found Theodore Boone: The Fugitive by John Grisham at the library and was happy to see there was another book in this series. These books follow 13-year-old Theo, the son of lawyer parents who wants to be a lawyer or judge himself one day. This book follows the case from the previous book, that of Pete Duffy, a local man accused of murder. When Theo finds himself face-to-face with Pete while on a school trip to DC, suddenly Theo is more involved in the case than he intended.

I enjoyed the book--I just think this series is fun. The story is definitely not very believable at times, but I can look past that and just have fun with it. I think Theo is an interesting character, and I think these books would also be really educational for kids in terms of how the justice system works.

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

Echo

I saw Pam Munoz Ryan had written a new book called Echo, so I put it on hold at the library. (I really like this author.) I couldn't figure out a good way to explain a summary of the book, so here is the summary from the School Library Journal: "A mouth harp (aka harmonica) becomes the tangible thread that connects the stories of three children: Friedrich, a disfigured outcast; Mike, an impoverished orphan; and Ivy, an itinerant farmer's child. Their personal struggles are set against some of the darkest eras in human history: Friedrich, the rise of Nazi Germany; Mike, the Great Depression; Ivy, World War II. The children are linked by musical talent and the hand of fate that brings [the] harmonica into their lives. Each recognizes something unusual about the instrument, not only its sound but its power to fill them with courage and hope. Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy are brought together by music and destiny in an emotionally triumphant conclusion at New York's Carnegie Hall."

This was a well-written and engaging book. I feel like I really liked each separate story of the three kids and maybe would have preferred to hear each child's full story rather than the partial stories that were then interconnected in the book. I read this book a month ago so have already forgotten anything else to chime in, but it was a good one. :)

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

On My Own Two Feet

I saw somewhere that Amy Purdy had written an memoir--On My Own Two Feet: From Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life. I had watched Amy Purdy (a Paralympic snowboarder with 2 prosthetic legs) on Dancing with the Stars, so I got the book from the library. It tells Amy's story from childhood until the sudden, severe bacterial meningitis she contracted at age 19 that made her lose her legs. Then the book carries on with how she moved forward with her life to become a Paralympic snowboarder bronze medalist and a finalist on Dancing with the Stars.

This was a really inspiring book. I really loved Amy when she was on Dancing with the Stars and was impressed by what a kind, happy person she was. It was amazing to read about all the physical challenges she went through during and after her sickness and how she realized she had bigger things to accomplish in her life. I really enjoyed the read. FYI, it does have some bad language, but it's mild and infrequent.

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

One for the Murphys

When reading Fish in a Tree a few weeks ago, I saw that the author (Laura Mullaly Hunt) had written another book--One for the Murphys--so I checked it out from the library. This book is about 12-year-old Carley Connors who finds herself unexpectedly in foster care. She gets placed with the Murphys--a family with three boys--and is shocked by the kind of happy family life she is experiencing. While she at first fights her emotions and is resistant to being happy there, she soon finds herself changing.

This was an incredible book. I was enthralled by the story and just loved Carley and Mrs. Murphy throughout the story. The author did an amazing job of connecting the reader to the emotions of the characters. I seriously, literally BAWLED for a good 5 chapters in the book. (So just a warning that if you're a crier, you will cry.) I just loved that the book felt so real, and it showed me the goodness of people. This was a meaningful, beautiful read. But heart-wrenching. Beware.

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

The Queen

I've been reading The Selection series by Kiera Cass and found she wrote another novella--a short story from the perspective of another character in the series. The Queen is about Maxon's mom Amberly when she was in the selection (years before) to complete for Maxon's dad.

This was a quick but fun read. It was interesting to see another side of the story and get to know Amberly and her background and how she came to be queen.

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

Mr. Terupt Falls Again

After reading the first Mr. Terupt book, I got Mr. Terupt Falls Again by Rob Buyea from the library. This follow the same students from Mr. Terupt's original class. I don't want to elaborate on the plot so I don't give anything away from book 1, so you can just go back and read that first review.

This book was really good. I liked reading about the same characters again and seeing what happened next in their lives. I like how all the kids are so different yet work together and build friendships, and I like seeing how they overcome their diverse and sometimes difficult family situations. I liked this book a little less than the first one, just because I felt like it was too focused on crushes, periods, etc.--but I guess that is what makes it a good book for upper elementary kids who are soon facing a lot of those things. But for me, it was just a distraction from the content and plot.

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

Fish In a Tree

I saw Fish In a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt on Amazon as a book purchased by people who bought Wonder so decided to get it from the library. It is about Ally, a sixth grader who struggles in school and is made fun of by her peers and misunderstood by her teacher and principal. When a new teacher, Mr. Daniels, comes into the picture, Ally starts opening up and discovering her strengths.

This was a really beautiful book about the power of a teacher to reach a child. The title of the book is based on the quote, "Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid." The book was a little hard to read sometimes because of how much Ally was struggling, but I loved seeing her change and gain confidence and then help others. I can't really decide whether to give this 2 stars or 3, so I'm going with 2--but know it's a high 2.

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

365 Days of Wonder

I got 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts by R.J. Palacio from the library to finish up  all the Wonder books that are out. This is mainly a quote book--one precept for each day of the year--but in between each month's precepts are a few pages from Mr. Browne (the teacher from Wonder).

I really enjoyed this book. First, the pages from Mr. Browne added to the story of Wonder and answered unanswered questions from the book. It was nice to continue in the world of Wonder. I also really loved the collections of precepts. As a teenager, I was really into quotes and would collect quotes, so I think this book was just right up my alley. There were lots of inspirational quotes that stuck out to me and made me think. I think I'd like to own this book so I can just keep referring back to the quotes.

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

Some favorite quotes on kindness from the book:

Because of Mr. Terupt

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea is another book I found on Amazon's "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" section (for Wonder, I think), so I got it from the library. It is about a class of fifth graders and their new teacher, Mr. Terupt. The book follows the diverse perspective of 7 of the students through alternating chapters and how amazing Mr. Terupt somehow knows how to handle all of them. The kids have "girl wars" and disagreements, but when tragedy strikes, it will bring them all close together.

This was a great book. The first few chapters were a little slow for me, but once I got to know the different characters, I was hooked. It helped me remember that things are never what they seem in people's lives, and we should just be kind to everyone and give everyone a chance. I also loved how the class worked with the special needs classroom and following the kids' reactions to that. Once the turning point of the story hit, I could not stop reading and had to stay up late just to finish the book and see how things would end. I really loved the story, the characters, and the lessons the book teaches on forgiveness, kindness, and being different. I also just saw that there are two more Mr. Terupt books by the author, so I'm excited to read them as well.

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

The War That Saved My Life

I saw The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley on Amazon under a "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" section for a book I was buying, so I got it from the library. It is about 10-year-old Ada who is kept locked up in her house by her cruel mother just because Ada has a crippled foot. When Ada's little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada sneaks along with him and experiences the world for the first time.

This was a beautiful book. It was hard to read sometimes because I was so frustrated by Ada's inability to love herself or recognize the love of others--but it also made sense because of the way her mom treated her. I loved learning about a different side of WWII (children evacuees) and following Ada, Jamie, and their new caretaker Susan. The main characters were all distinct and lovable, and the story kept me wondering how there could be a happy ending. I think the book also taught some important lessons about kindness and confidence.

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

Wonder (& 2 bonus stories)

After lending Wonder by R.J. Palacio to a couple friends, I decided I should re-read it since it is one of my favorite books. And after re-reading it, I bought two of the bonus stories the author wrote--Pluto (a chapter from Christopher's perspective) and Shingaling (a chapter from Charlotte's perspective). Here's the link to first time I wrote about this book and the time I re-read it the first time, but basically this book is the story of fifth grader Auggie Pullman who is born with a craniofacial anomaly--which makes his face receive a lot of negative attention when he starts school for the first time. Wonder is about how he and the kids around him handle this year of school. The two extra chapters I read tell the stories of two other characters from the book during the same school year.

I loved Wonder again, and I also loved the two new stories. The stories helped me realize that kindness can be shown in a lot of different ways. Wonder always inspires me to be a better, kinder person and to raise my daughter to show kindness without reservation. If you haven't read this book, you really, really should. It is not very long and brings out laughter, tears, and deep thinking about life.

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

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

I saw Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Christ Grabenstein on the New York Times Bestsellers list for children's books, so I got it from the library. The book is about Kyle Keeley, a middleschooler who is selected with a few others to be part of a lock-in at the brand new library. A world-famous game maker designed the new library, and Kyle and the other kids have to find and follow clues to find their way out.

This was a fun read. The characters were entertaining and distinct, and it was fun to follow the mystery throughout the story. I only wish that I had been more observant while reading because the Author's Note at the end mentions an unsolved puzzle in the book. Oh well. :)

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

A Long Walk to Water

Sometimes I glance through the New York Times Bestseller Lists to find book recommendations, and the other day I saw A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park on the list of children's bestsellers. The book tells the story of two children in Sudan--Nya (in 2008) who walks to and from the pond twice a day every day (2 hours each way) to get water for her family and Salva (in 1985) who has to run alone to the bush to escape the war in his homeland.

This was an absolutely beautiful book. I was completely engaged from the beginning and didn't want to stop reading. It was a quick read but compelling, heartbreaking, and inspiring. At the end of the book, I found out that this was based on a true story, and I became even more fascinated and inspired. You HAVE to read this book and then visit www.waterforsudan.org. This was a life-changing book, and it made me feel like I really should be doing more good in the world.

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

The Heir

I've been anxiously awaiting The Heir by Kiera Cass--the fourth book in The Selection series (which was originally only supposed to be a trilogy). I was going to be on hold at the library for forever, but luckily a friend who I recommended the books to last year bought this new one--so I borrowed it. :) This book follows King Maxon and his wife's oldest child--a daughter Eadlyn who is next in line to the throne. In this book, Eadlyn reluctantly holds her own Selection to find a husband.

This was another great read. I just love this series--the books are both entertaining/funny and charming/chick-flick-y. I thought the author did a really good job in the book presenting the different characters and making me like (or dislike) them. I liked how she made Eadlyn come across as a likable main character but with obvious flaws that I noticed between the lines as the book went on. The author also kept me guessing on how things were going to turn out, so I liked that it wasn't predictable. This was a great book, and my only unhappiness with it is how it was very inconclusive at the end. Book 5 better come soon!

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

Focused

I borrowed Focused: Keeping Your Life on Track, One Choice at a Time from a friend after seeing an advertisement for it. This book is by Noelle Pikus Pace, a world champion and Olympic medalist in the Skeleton. I'd heard about her during the last winter Olympics because (1) she won the silver medal after having some big trials in the past (getting hit and seriously injured by a runaway bobsled just before the 2006 Olympics and then getting 4th when she had a comeback in the 2010 Olympics), (2) she was LDS (same religion as me), and (3) she had her husband and 2 young kids travel with her on her Olympic journey. This book tells of some of Noelle's experiences and how she chooses to move forward and be happy even during life's challenges.

This was a really good book. It was a quick read but very inspirational and motivating. I was impressed by how she didn't give up when life threw her curveballs, and I really respected how she stood up for the things she believes in. She also shares some experiences about how she learned to be confident in and accepting of herself. (I think this is probably a great book for teenage girls.) I enjoyed the read.

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

The Family Romanov

On the day the 2015 Newbery winners were announced, I read Shannon Hale's blog post and saw that she mentioned that Candace Fleming won a Sibert Honor (most distinguished informational book for children) for her book The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia. I decided to get the book from the library because I've always been intrigued by the Romanovs (mainly because all I know is from the movie Anastasia, which I knew was completely inaccurate historically). This book tells about Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (an incredibly wealthy monarch who was somehow chose to ignore the greatest needs of his people), his wife Alexandra (obsessed with the mystic faith healer Rasputin), and their five children Olga, Tatiana, Marie, Anastasia, and Alexei. The book also describes the lives of others in Russia, the political uprisings, and what eventually brought about the downfall of the Romanovs.

This book was fascinating, and I learned so much. It was incredibly well-researched but didn't feel like a slow, nonfiction read. I was engaged and interested and was anxious to see how things would turn out for this family. The author did a good job presenting both sides--I could see the Tsar and his family in both a super positive light and a super negative light. I love books like this that give me a great history and education in a readable format--not too long and not too boring. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in this time period in Russia or in the Romanov family.

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

Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters

Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters is the third book in Shannon Hale's Princess Academy stories. I am a big Shannon Hale fan and loved the two other books about Miri, so I was excited to get this one from the library. This book follows Miri after she is asked to start a princess academy for three royal cousins who live in a faraway swamp. The experience turns out to be very different than she expects,  but Miri becomes close to Astrid, Felissa, and Sus. When trouble comes, the new friends must work together to save the kingdom.

This was another great read. I loved how the plot came together, and it's always fun to reunite with loved characters from previous books. The writing was beautiful with lots of great details and lots of little humor hidden in the dialogue. I was continually engaged and wanted to see if my predictions would turn out how I expected. And based on how the book ended, I'm hoping Shannon Hale writes another continuation book.

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

(Book 1 review, Book 2 review)

How to Be Like Walt

I recently decided I wanted to read a biography about Walt Disney, and after some research, I chose How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life by Pat Williams. This book tells the story of Walt Disney's life--his background, the beginnings of his animation studio, his movies, Disneyland, and his death.

I really enjoyed this book. I have always loved Disneyland, and I love so many Disney movies, so it was fascinating to learn the background on Walt Disney. I especially liked the way this book focused on the admirable traits of Walt Disney and how we can apply them into our lives to be better people. The book didn't act like Walt Disney was perfect--it definitely admitted his faults, but I liked that the book didn't dwell there. Instead, it used the words of dozens of people who knew him to show us what an amazing person he was. Not only did he dream big dreams and never give up, but he was a man of true compassion who cared about people. I really felt like I came to know Walt Disney in a small way after reading this book, and it made me even more admire and appreciate him and what Disney stands for. In the end, I was tearing up as I read about his death. The shock felt by those who knew him was just heartbreaking--one said, "We couldn't imagine living in a world without Walt Disney." Another quote I loved was this: After Walt's death, Walt Disney World was finished, and someone said, "Isn't it too bad Walt Disney didn't live to see this?" A Disney employee and friend of Walt's replied, "He did see it--that's why it's here."

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

Man's Search for Meaning

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a book I've been wanting to read for awhile. (A few months ago, I started--but didn't finish--an awesome book called Character is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember by John McCain. I want to go back and finish that book, but in the meantime, I wrote down the names of those whose stories I read and wanted to learn more about. Viktor Frankl was one of them.) Viktor Frankl was a psychiatrist who was in four different concentration camps during the Holocaust.  Even before his time in the camps, he had developed a theory about the importance of finding meaning our lives. Once he spent time in the camps, he realized that even in suffering, we can choose to find meaning in our lives and move forward with purpose.

This was a really beautiful book. I am always completely shocked and amazed by what the Holocaust victims had to go through and how they endured, and Viktor Frankl's experiences are no exception. This book was super deep at times and used a lot of psychiatric vocabulary that I was not familiar with, so I'm sure the book would have been even better if I were smarter. :) I also felt like the book was not organized in a super logical way but was more like a stream of consciousness. But despite this, I really enjoyed the read and was touched and inspired by the messages. I'm glad I read it and think it was an important and meaningful read. Although there are so many more I'm not going to include, here are some favorite quotes I want to remember:

• "We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."
• "There was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer."
• "A man who became conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the 'why' for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any 'how.'"
• "We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation, when facing a fate that cannot be changed....When we are no longer able to change a situation--just think of an incurable disease such as an inoperable cancer--we are challenged to change ourselves."
• "It is one of the basic tenants of logotherapy that man's main concern is not to gain pleasure or to avoid pain but rather to see a meaning in his life. That is why man is even ready to suffer, on the condition, to be sure, that his suffering has a meaning. But let me make it perfectly clear that in no way is suffering necessary to find meaning. I only insist that meaning is possible even in spite of suffering."
• "Researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine 'have been impressed by the number of prisoners of ward of the Vietnam war who explicitly claimed that although their captivity was extraordinarily stressful--filled with torture, disease, malnutrition, and solitary confinement--they nevertheless...benefited from the captivity experience, seeing it as a growth experience.'"
• "Most important, he realized that, no matter what happened, he retained the freedom to choose how to respond to his suffering. He saw this not merely as an option but as his and every person's responsibility to choose 'the way in which he bears his burden.'"
• "I do not forget any good deed done to me, and I do not carry a grudge for a bad one."

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

Brown Girl Dreaming

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is one of the 2015 Newbery Honor books. It is a memoir/autobiography--the true story of Jacqueline's childhood. It follows Jacqueline and her family in Ohio, then South Carolina, then New York during the 60s and 70s. The book shares her relationships with family members, what it was like to grow up during the Civil Rights era, and how she found she wanted to be a writer.

This book was written in verse and was beautifully written. (I debated calling this a "loved it," but I don't know if it quite made it there--but I really, really liked the book.) It was so interesting to follow Jacqueline's life, and having the story in verse made it even more vivid and compelling. I especially loved the chapter "The Selfish Giant" partway through where Jacqueline shares with her class a story she memorized. Her classmates are all amazed she could do that, and she doesn't know how to explain--"How can I explain to anyone that stories are like air to me,/ I breathe them in and let them out/ over and over again." Then her teacher compliments her as well, and Jacqueline says, "And I know now/...Words are my brilliance." Earlier in the book, Jacqueline compared herself to her siblings and wasn't as good as them in certain things--but here she found that she had her own gift. I just loved that since she grew up to be an incredible author who has won the Newbery honor with 4 different books.

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

One Came Home

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake was a Newbery Honor book in 2014, so I found it and started reading it last year. I lost interest and returned it to the library, but then last week, my sister Molly recommended the book to me after reading it in her Children's Lit class. So, I got it back from the library and gave it another shot. The book is about Georgie Burkhardt in 1870s Wisconsin. Georgie's sister Agatha runs off with a pack of pigeoners, and soon after, an unidentifiable body is found wearing Agatha's ball gown. Georgie won't believe that Agatha is truly dead and sets out on a journey of her own to find the truth.

I'm glad I gave the book another chance because it was an interesting story once I got more into it. The book was very well written with details that really let you imagine the setting and characters. It was a mystery mixed with historical fiction, which made the book unique and fun. I liked trying to figure out what would happen. Everything came together a little too quickly in the end, and something I had hoped for didn't happen, but I still enjoyed the read. Georgie was a strong, likable character, and it was fun to read the book through her perspective.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Crossover

I saw that Crossover by Kwame Alexander won the Newbery Medal for 2015, so I checked it out from the library. It is about middle-schooler Josh, a star basketball player along with his twin brother Jordan. When Jordan gets a girlfriend and Josh's dad starts having health problems, Josh begins feeling isolated, and he learns some hard lessons along the way.

This was a quick read but a good one. The book is written in verse, and the author captures the story so well in this format. The characters were well-developed, and the plot was interesting. I enjoyed the book.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Of Grace and Chocolate

My friend told me she got some books on clearance at Deseret Book (an LDS bookstore), so I borrowed Of Grace and Chocolate by Krista Lynne Jensen. It is about Jill, a young adult who works for a local publishing company and is writing a novel on the side. She has a pretty predictable life until her long-lost sister Evie shows up--bringing along a baby and crazy drug addicts on her trail. Jill finds herself in trouble and begrudgingly relies on help from Scott--a guy in her ward who broke Jill's heart when she was a teenager.

This was a fun read. I don't really read books like this, but it was a nice, light read. It was surprisingly action-filled and had some romance too. I liked how things came together and just enjoyed the read.

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

El Deafo

I saw El Deafo by CeCe Bell on the list of Newbery Honor winners for 2015, so I checked it out from the library.  This book tells the story of CeCe, a young girl who becomes deaf when she's four. With her huge Phonic Ear hearing aid and friends that never seem to last, CeCe experiences a lot of loneliness. But she imagines herself as a super hero (El Deafo) and doesn't give up on finding a friend who will like her for who she is.

This was a neat book. When I got it from the library, I was surprised to see that it was a graphic novel. I wasn't sure if I still wanted to read it, but after glancing through the first few pages, it caught my attention. It was an engaging story with lots of characters to love and hate. At the end, I realized that this book is a memoir based on the author's actual childhood--which made it even cooler. I really liked the "Note from the Author" at the end and her concluding words: "Our differences are our superpowers."

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