The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

I saw The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate was also recommended in "The Mini Page." (I later saw that it also was a Newbery honor book for 2010.) This book is the story of Calpurnia, an 11-year-old who is the only girl, right in the middle of 7 children. She lives in Texas in 1899, and we follow her life as she begins to develop a relationship with her grandfather, a naturalist, and realize that her true interests lie in science and the outdoors--not needlepoint and cooking.

This was a really nice story, all told from the point of view of Callie. She is just a cute and entertaining character to follow, along with the rest of her family. The author does a great job really bringing in the historical nature of the time period as well. It was just a really fun read with a sweet story that kept me interested.

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

The Great Gilly Hopkins

I saw The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson recommended in "The Mini Page," a little section of the Washington Post for kids. I remembered my mom (or someone) telling me to read the book when I was a kid, so I decided I should try it now. It is the story of Gilly--a child in the foster care system who gets placed in home after home. Finally her newest home is the last straw, so she writes a letter to her birth mom in desperate hopes of getting rescued. The book tells what happens in the chain of events that follow.

I really liked this book. Gilly was just such an interesting character with flaws that you just couldn't blame her for. The book actually made me cry and was quite sad, but I suppose that's what made it a realistic and believable book. It was a quick read with good detail.

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

U.S. History for Dummies

I decided to read U.S. History for Dummies by Steve Wiegand because I am sad how much I've forgotten since taking American history classes in school. I wanted a refresher/summary and thought this would be a good way to do it. The book flows chronologically and just glazes over the main events and people in the history of our country.

I thought this fulfilled my purpose in getting the book. It helped me identify some areas of US history that I'm particularly interested in reading a more substantial nonfiction book about. It wasn't a boring read, and I got a good summary.

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

My Friend the Enemy

I have had My Friend the Enemy by J.B. Cheaney on my bookshelf for awhile after getting it from a book order last year sometime. I was in between books yesterday and decided to finally read it. It's the story of a girl named Hazel, living during World War II. Her birthday (December 7th) has been forever ruined ever since it became a "Day That Would Live in Infamy," and Hazel spends her free time using her field glasses to look out for Japanese enemies. Then one day she discovers a Japanese boy in hiding to avoid going to an internment camp. The book follows Hazel's thoughts, friendships, and decisions during wartime.

This was a really great book. As usual, I just love historical fiction because it puts you in that world. There were so many references to what really went on in an average American town during this WWII time period. Hazel was also a really likable character, and it was fun and enlightening to read things from her perspective. The book was exciting and interesting.

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

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison is the last book in the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. I started this series when I was teaching elementary school, and it was a HUGE favorite there. Connor and I started reading the series and really liked it--enough that we actually bought this most recent book once we realized our library still didn't even have it in the catalog. The Fablehaven series is about a place called Fablehaven that is a refuge for mystical creatures, separate from the outside world. When Kendra and Seth go to visit their grandparents, they discover this hidden world, along with all the challenges of protecting it .

I really enjoyed this book. It had good closure to the series while still adding in lots of new ideas and adventures. The characters are very well developed, and it's just a fun, interesting plot to follow.

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

Gilead

I read Gilead by Marilynne Robinson for the book group I'm in. In Gilead, Reverend John Ames is writing a journal to his young son. The aging father is expected to die in the near future due to a heart condition, but his son is only 7 years old. So, the father decides to write a journal to tell his son all the things he would want the son to know if he (the father) were still around.

I thought the book was an interesting idea for a story. It was well written, but at the same time, sometimes seemed to go on and on. It was from the perspective of this old guy, so the book really came across as a stream of consciousness from an old man rambling on about random topics without any real order to it. For that reason, it wasn't the most interesting book the whole way through. Parts of it, though, were kinda nice--there were lots of interesting religious insights since the narrator was a reverend. Since he had lived a long, full life, he also shared lots of little tidbits of life lessons.

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

Island of the Blue Dolphins

The third book I found at work was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. This is a Newbery that I have never read even though I've heard about it for years. In this story, Karana, an Indian girl, ends up living alone on her island for years after some tragedies take place with her people. The book follows Karana as she makes food and weapons and survives from season to season on the beautiful island she loves.

This book had kind of a Hatchet feel to it since a lot of the book focused on what foods she was getting and how she cooked them and how she made weapons. It was also a nice story of the personal changes that took place in herself as she spent time alone on this island, with only animals for companionship. The book was very believable and really portrayed well this strong character.

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