A Bird Will Soar

I learned about A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers because it won the Schneider Family Book Award (for children's books with a character with a disability). The book description reads, "Axel loves everything about birds, especially eagles. No one worries that an eagle will fly too far and not come home—a fact Axel wishes his mother understood. Deep down, Axel knows that his mother is like an osprey—the best of all bird mothers—but it’s hard to remember that when she worries and keeps secrets about important things. His dad is more like a wild turkey, coming and going as he pleases. His dad’s latest disappearance is the biggest mystery of all. Despite all this, Axel loves his life—especially the time he spends with his friends observing the eagles’ nest in the woods near his home. But when a tornado damages not only Axel’s home but the eagles’ nest, Axel’s life is thrown into chaos. Suddenly his dad is back to help repair the damage, and Axel has to manage his dad’s presence and his beloved birds’ absence. Plus, his mom seems to be keeping even more secrets. But Axel knows another important fact: an eagle’s instincts let it soar. Axel must trust his own instincts to help heal his family and the nest he loves."

This was a nice story. I really liked Axel and his relationship with the animal rescue doctor, his friend Daniel, and his neighbors. I also liked seeing how Axel managed having autism and all the abilities he had despite having that diagnosis. The book was a little slow for me, and it took me awhile to get through it--but I liked it enough that I wanted to finish it. The book taught some valuable lessons to adults about how kids want to have important things explained to them rather than being left in the dark.

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

Hope Springs

I saw Hope Springs on the new book shelf at the library and thought it looked like a book I would enjoy. Here is the book description: "Eleven-year-old Jubilee Johnson is an expert at three things: crafting, moving, and avoiding goodbyes. On the search for the "perfect place," she and her Nan live by their Number One Relocation Rule—just the two of them is all they need. But Jubilee's starting to feel like just two is a little too close to alone. Desperate to settle down, Jubilee plans their next move, Hope Springs, Texas—home of her TV crafting idol, Arletta Paisley. Here she meets a girl set on winning the local fishing tournament and a boy who says exactly the right thing by hardly speaking at all. Soon, Jubilee wonders if Hope Springs might just be the place to call home. But when the town is threatened by a mega-chain superstore fronted by Arletta Paisley, Jubilee is faced with skipping town yet again or standing up to her biggest bully yet. With the help of her new friends and the one person she never thought she'd need—her Momma—will Jubilee find a way to save the town she's come to love and convince Nan that it's finally time to settle down?"

This was a good read. I enjoyed the story and liked the characters and how things turned out. The book was a little bit cliche and at times seemed to "tell" too much rather than just letting the situations speak for themselves.

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

Ada Blackjack: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic

I read Ada Blackjack: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic by Jennifer Niven for the first book in a new book club a friend started. Here's the book description from Amazon: "In September 1921, four young men and Ada Blackjack, a diminutive 25-year-old Eskimo woman, ventured deep into the Arctic in a secret attempt to colonize desolate Wrangel Island for Great Britain. Two years later, Ada Blackjack emerged as the sole survivor of this ambitious polar expedition. This young, unskilled woman--who had headed to the Arctic in search of money and a husband--conquered the seemingly unconquerable north and survived all alone after her male companions had perished. Following her triumphant return to civilization, the international press proclaimed her the female Robinson Crusoe. But whatever stories the press turned out came from the imaginations of reporters: Ada Blackjack refused to speak to anyone about her horrific two years in the Arctic. Only on one occasion--after charges were published falsely accusing her of causing the death of one her companions--did she speak up for herself."

This was a really interesting book. It was long, but I was able to finish it pretty quickly because the story was engaging, and I wanted to see how things panned out. The author did a great job portraying the various people involved, though I did consider that this is just one side of the story so I was definitely swayed in favor of some people (Ada) and against others (Stefansson). It was interesting to hear about the way they lived in the Arctic and how they tried to survive, and it was fun to discuss with friends at book club. Good read.

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