Found Things

Title: Found Things

 

Author: Marilyn Hilton

 

Summary: River Rose woke up one morning speaking in an accent/dialect different from anyone in her town, after her brother Theron left her family after an accident. River misses her beloved brother, and things don't help with the school bully, David Bunch, constantly picking on her. River copes by going to the river to pick up pieces for her collage she continuously works on in her school's art class. One day, a girl, Meadow Lark, shows up at her school in a mysterious way. The two eventually become friends, and Meadow Lark even lives with them for a while. Throughout the story the two uncover the strange house that River can see so clearly in her mind, and both girls realize the power of wishes and miracles and the truth.

 

Comments: This book was powerful with lots of emotion. River is likeable and relatable, and Meadow Lark was just so perfect for the story; she just naturally had an air of mystery about her. However, the book did not really explore Meadow Lark, even though she was portrayed as the type of girl who was different - who had something hidden deep down.

The book has several different mysteries, and they aren't the type of mystery where the author is obvious about it; the mysteries sink into the story and flow throughout it, and it all blends together in a pleasing way.  

I think this book would probably be good for 8+, the brother did make a few not-so-good mistakes it seems, but overall the book is pretty appropriate.

The book was beautifully written, and it was deep - much deeper than the type of middle grade/school novels that are typically written and published nowadays.

 

Complaints: River's dialect was a little confusing for me at first, but I caught on quickly. I feel like the reader could've been eased into it a little better.

 

Rating: 5 stars

Sparrow Road

Title: Sparrow Road

 

Author: Sheila O'Connor

 

Summary: 12 year old Raine O'Rourke is upset at first to be spending her summer at Sparrow Road, a summer artists colony with rules like "no talking" and "no telephones." She misses her Grandpa Mac and his store and her house and is confused as to why they came to Sparrow Road for her mother to work as the maid. However, when Raine finds out that she'll have the chance to meet her father who she never remembers meeting before, Raine realizes how important it was for her to travel to Sparrow Road and the summer before 7th grade is the summer when Raine finally discovers who she is and who she comes from.

 

Comments: I really, really liked this book. In fact, it could be in my Top #5 for my reading in 2015. Raine is a little wise beyond her years, but she is relatable and likeable and believable too - all of the things that the main protagonist should be. Her character grows immensely throughout the story, and it is very obvious by the end.

At first, I had a problem with how much seemed to lie on Raine's shoulders. She seemed like she was so stressed out all because her mother constantly hid things from her (all with good reason I suppose, but still). I think if the lines of communication had been different between her and her mama, I think the book would've been much different; but not necessarily better.

The setting is just painted so beautifully; an old orphanage with beautiful rolling hills and a tiny town right near by - the whole thing seemed like a setting from a fairy tale and there really are places like that and I think that it was the perfect setting for this book. Hearing about the orphanage in its past was very neat (I'm a history fan). I thought Raine's supernatural connection with Lyman the orphan was pretty neat and each artist had a little secret, which I found was a nice touch.  

I did find it strange however, that the rules presented in the beginning about no talking until supper and no phone calls seemed to be lifted once Josie and Raine started planning out the Art Extravaganza.

I couldn't tell exactly when this book took place, but with all of the events described, I like to think it was in the early to mid 80s; but I like the fact that the author left it up to the reader to decide. She may have provided the clues, but the reader had to think and decide.

This book would be best enjoyed by those who are 10+ because of its length and the complex problems presented throughout the book.  

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars

 

Reaching for Sun

Title: Reaching for Sun

 

Author: Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

 

Summary: 7th grader Josie Wyatt lives with her Gran and mother on a farm that has now dwindled down into a garden after the sale of most of their land to a housing company. Josie is different; she has cerebral palsy. She can still walk and can talk too, but she has speech and physical and occupational therapies all requested by her mother who won't let her forget her problems. But Josie's mostly lonely life changes when a boy named Jordan moves in nearby. They become good friends and Josie grows in many ways as she navigates her early teen years.

 

Comments: This is another book that is written in poetry verses. That seems to be pretty popular nowadays, and I must admit that it is really growing on me. With these sort of books I find it hard to learn enough about the characters to be able to relate to each one on a personal level. The only book written in verse that I was really able to relate to was May B. which I definitely recommend.

Josie's character did develop colorfully throughout the story, and by the end she was different, but I don't feel as though I got close enough to her to be proud of her accomplishments or to really know her.

I thought it was so beautiful and encouraging how Josie was portrayed as a girl okay with being different. She managed to live such a vibrant and colorful life and to be a good friend even with her disabilities that she could've easily allowed to get in her way.

The book has a few references to "older girl" stuff, but it would probably still be appropriate for 8-9+ years.

This book is a coming of age novel written in verse that I did enjoy, even if I did not feel able to completely relate to the characters on a personal level.

 

Complaints: I felt left wanting more information on the backgrounds of each character. The story did not feel complete.

 

Rating: 4 stars

With a Name Like Love

Title: With a Name Like Love

 

Author: Tess Hilmo

 

Summary: 13 year old Olivene "Ollie" Love, daughter of the Reverend Everlasting Love, travels by trailer around the country in 1957 with her mother, father, and her 4 younger sisters preaching to towns. Ollie is tired of moving on from each town, homeschooling with her sisters and not living in an actual house, but she doesn't think anything of the town, Binder that they stop in for a few days. But during a quick trip to the general store, she meets a boy, Jimmy Koppel who has a lot more mystery to him than any outsider would think. His father was murdered and his mother was wrongfully jailed for it.

Ollie and Jimmy become close and Ollie does everything she can to try and uncover who really murdered Jimmy's abusive father.

 

Comments: I loved this book. I believe I especially liked it because I was so easily able to relate to Ollie. I too am the oldest of my sisters, I am homeschooled, my family has quite similar Christian values, and I am 13 years of age as well.

The characters in this book are all likeable and I really enjoyed the writing. I felt that there was a slight romance between Ollie and Jimmy, but it wasn't overplayed and it was all very subtle and left for the reader to interpret in their own way. The mystery in this book made for a great storyline, and the mystery didn't take up the whole story.

I do feel like the book kind of justified the murder of Jimmy's father because of the abusive person he was. Some could disagree with this; however it was not outright said; it could just be interpreted this way.

Ollie is a good example; she wanted to get what she desired, yet not if it meant the others around her not being happy. She was also a good role model for older sisters everywhere.

The book is not predictable (or it wasn't for me anyway, and I read mysteries regularly).

I'd recommend this book for 10+ because the descriptions of Jimmy's father's abusive ways could be disturbing to young children.  

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars

Here Today

Title: Here Today

 

Author: Ann M. Martin

 

Summary: Ellie is growing up in a small New York town in 1963 along with her two younger siblings, and her father, and her mother who has always had an burning (and I mean burning!) desire to be famous. She does everything she can to become famous in her small town, often times forgetting about how the rest of her family feels and often only thinking about herself. Ellie, who has recently entered 6th grade, is having a hard time in school and she is being bullied along with her friend Holly and the rest of the kids on her street which has been deemed as eccentric and weird.

As school gets harder to deal with, the situation gets worse when Ellie's mother, Doris Day Dingman decides that she needs to go to New York city in search of fame. So, she leaves her family for a while to go to New York City, saying that the rest of the family will move with her after the school year. But things aren't working out and 1963 is the year that Ellie learns that she has to let go to move forward.

 

Comments: I really enjoyed this book. Ann M. Martin is the author of my guilty pleasure series, The Babysitters Club, and she is also the author of several other books that I have enjoyed and reviewed on here (click under the Ann M. Martin author tag to see my reviews). The characters in this book feel real - they are all really unique. The outline of the characters may be a little stereotyped at times, however I didn't feel that it took away from the book.

Ellie is likeable - her mother isn't, but her mother isn't sold to the reader as unlikeable right away, which I like; it is up to the reader to decide at first. I felt terrible at her decision to leave Ellie and her siblings and by the end of the book, though she was just a fictional character, I was so angry with her! I especially was upset when Ellie got to finally visit her grandparents and she had to go to her mother's audition with her. Ellie was a great example of an ordinary girl who proved to be very strong when a less-than-perfect situation was thrown her way.
This book was so well written, yet Ellie's situation was almost painful to read. Ellie's relationship with her mother was sad, yet I felt even worse for her younger siblings.

This book has some more mature themes I'd say, so I'd probably recommend it to 10+. This book was just wonderful and Ann M. Martin really worked her writing magic with this book once again. The writing was just beautiful. Ann M. Martin is the classic writer of today, I think. I was quite pleased and I think that any reader of the 10-13 age range would be pleased too!

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars!  

Eggs Over Evie

Title: Eggs Over Evie

 

Author: Alison Jackson

 

Summary: Evie Carson is going through a tough time in her life; her parents recently got separated and she misses her dad, who is a famous chef and always inspired Evie to cook. Her dad now lives in another house with his new wife who is expecting their twin babies, and Evie's dog. Evie loves to cook just like her dad, and she enrolls in a rec center cooking class where she meets a boy, Corey, who is the nephew of the eccentric cooking teacher. As Evie goes through a summer of change, she learns to navigate through her love of cooking, her feelings towards Corey, her dad and his new family, and maybe even her grumpy next door neighbor, Ms. Hamilton.

 

Comments: This book was pretty good. Evie was likeable and her emotions seemed real and so did her family. Her dad was not the stereotypical "divorced with a new family" dad that is sometimes found in modern books. Each character was pretty unique and the book was not as predictable as it looks. There are small illustrations scattered through the book and the sketches of Evie are a wonderful device for the reader to have a guide to envision how parts of the story are happening. The book and illustrations really struck a balance where the book didn't feel like an early reader picture book yet it wasn't a huge work of literature either.

The book goes quick and I don't really have anything to complain about, though it is not by any means my favorite book. I enjoy baking mostly and I certainly do not have as adventurous a taste palate as Evie, so perhaps this book would be better enjoyed by one who is as passionate about cooking as she is.

The book would probably be best enjoyed by 10+, because of Corey the boy crush and also Evie's mother goes on dates, divorce is talked about, and her stepmother having twins is discussed too, so I'd probably say 10+. Also, Evie herself is 13 years old.

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars

Breakaway

Title: Breakaway

 

Author: Andrea Montalbano

 

Summary: LJ feels best when she is scoring goals on the field and playing soccer. Not only does she enjoy it, but she's good at it too. However, because she thinks she is so good, she tends to take the ball and become a "one man show" rather than play with her team, which includes new popular girl, Tabitha who LJ just may be becoming friends with. When she is suspended and made to sit on the sidelines, though, she realizes that she has to learn to lose her temper and become a team player.

 

Comments: This book would definitely be best enjoyed by those who play soccer. There is some soccer terminology in it that could be confusing to the reader who has no experience in the sport or a sport of that kind. I personally didn't enjoy this book, but I'm not a soccer fan or anything - I just couldn't relate to the character. For me, LJ was just so unlikeable and throughout the whole book she was full of self-praise. In the end she claimed to learn a lesson, but from a reader's perspective I did not see enough character or personality growth descriptions that reflected what she had supposedly learned. I feel like she may have just forced herself to learn something so she could have a chance at participating in the big game despite her suspension.

I found the "rich girl" Tabitha to be very stereotyped, with a driver and mansion and maid and such. She didn't have the stereotypical personality though, so I guess I can let that slide.

 

This could have the potential to be a good book for the earlier reader and soccer player, but it "fell short of the goal" for me.

 

Complaints: All complaints written in comments.

 

Rating: 3 stars

R My Name is Rachel

Title: R My Name is Rachel

 

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

 

Summary: Rachel is growing up in the Depresson/1936 with her two younger siblings (Joey & Cassie) and father (her mother died when she was only two). Rachel has enjoyed a somewhat carefree life in the city - writing, reading, and enjoying the company of her best friend; a lady, Miss Mitzi, who owns a flower shop in the town.

One day, as the Depression gets worse and worse, Rachel and her family are forced to leave and use the rest of their money to buy a farm in the country - far away from everything Rachel has always known. When Rachel's father is forced to go far away from the farm for a job, Rachel and her two younger siblings must help each other survive for the months he is gone.

 

Comments: Patricia Reilly Giff is just a really talented, accomplished author in general; I love her works of historic fiction. The last book of hers that I read, Winter Sky, was definitely not a favorite of mine, but I think this one may be my favorite! Rachel is a great main character, and she is very relatable. She enjoys reading and writing; and some of her favorite books are my favorites too (I love classics)!
The book really showed the hardships of the Depression in a way that isn't too harsh for young readers and it isn't too light for older readers either. 
This book wasn't very long, but there was a lot of description and a clear story. The characters, especially Cassie, aren't perfect, and I like that - all the characters are realistic.
I think that this story could be suitable for all ages - though it would be best enjoyed by those of an old enough age to know about the Depression.

Complaints: None.

Rating: 5 stars
 

 

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies

Title: The Girl Who Threw Butterflies

 

Author: Mick Cochrane

 

Summary: 8th grader Molly Williams recently lost her father who died in a car accident. Now she has been left with her mother, who doesn't understand her at all - Molly has always been closest to her dad; especially her love of baseball. She misses playing catch and watching games with her dad; who taught her different baseball skills, such as how to throw a knuckleball - a skill that takes lots and lots of practice. At school, she doesn't want to continue to play on her usual softball team - girls softball just isn't the same as baseball.

So, she tries out for the baseball team; she wants to be known as the girl on the baseball team; rather than known as the girl who lost her dad. As she plays on the baseball team, she meets a new friend and begins to restart her life again and find a connection to her father as time goes on. The only problem is her mother, who may just ruin things for her.

 

Comments: I really enjoyed this book. Molly had feelings similar to mine - I much prefer baseball over girls softball and I've yet to find a character in a book that shares those feelings. I like Molly's bravery to try out for the boys team and it was refreshing to see a character who stood strong even when she was bullied at first by the boys on the team. Eventually, they accepted her; and this showed a good lesson that if one doesn't back down; things will turn out right.

Molly was likeable and relatable in many ways; her desire to be seen differently, to prove others wrong, her love of baseball, and just her overall character. 

This book doesn't really have any "iffy" content - there is a little detail on the night/morning of her father's death; but there is no descriptions or anything that any reader over 8 couldn't handle. Molly's grief and sorrow over the loss of her father is very strong, and her emotions seem very real. The book is pretty suitable for any reader 8+. There is one word, "crap" said once by Molly's friend Celia. While this book could be suitable for ages 8+, due to Molly's age, it would be best enjoyed by those who are 10+.  The word was not necessarily in a bad context, and while it is seen as an inappropriate word by a lot of families I know (including my own), however, just because it is written once in the book does not mean that you shouldn't read this amazing novel!While this book could be suitable for ages 8+, due to Molly's age, it would be best enjoyed by those who are 10+.  

 The book really spoke to me in a lot of ways; the love of baseball, the protagonist (Molly's) goal to follow her dreams...

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars 

The Thing About Luck

Title: The Thing About Luck

 

Author: Cynthia Kadohata

 

Summary: 12 year old Summer and her younger brother are staying with their grandparents during the harvesting season. As Summer travels the road with them harvesting crops, she learns a lot about herself and who she is and she may just find better luck too.

 

Comments: There really isn't much of a summary for this book, because there really isn't too much to the story. Summer is a likeable character, though besides the backstory about her having had malaria and her now being fascinated with mosquitoes, there really isn't too much character development.

Her brother seems a little stereotyped as the "different sibling" and her grandparents seem a little stereotyped too as the "foreign, strict grandparents".

The book has A LOT of information on combines and harvesting, which could appeal to many girls who read this book, but some younger readers or uninterested readers may find all the harvest talk to be a bit of a slow-down or bore. I personally found it interesting, but I could see myself getting easily frustrated with all of the details of driving a combine, if I wasn't interested in learning about it.

I like how Summer makes an effort to dare to be different; I find that a redeeming quality in her character.

However, I think that the part where Summer falls in love with a boy (the child of the woman who runs the harvest team) was just too much. It just seemed like too much detail of kissing and all that in the book.) I think that the whole scene was just a little ridiculous and I wonder why I lot of books nowadays seem to always have a love story woven in - it just didn't feel quite necessary.

This didn't take up the whole book though; so I'm still going to rate it okay for 10+, but it may not be.

The characters in the book; besides Summer, didn't really seem to develop throughout the story.

Overall, I think that the book was okay. It was a little slow, but if the reader is "into" the book enough to read into everything, it can really be a deep book that makes an impact on the reader.

 

Complaints: I think some of the scenes were a little too mature for the book's target audience. There was also too much information on the harvest process; at times it felt more like an informational pamphlet on harvesting than it did a fiction book. Some of the characters fell short of my expectations and were a little flat.

 

Rating: 3 stars

Words with Wings

Title: Words with Wings

 

Author: Nikki Grimes

 

Summary: Gabby's life has been hard lately; her parents have divorced and now she is living with her mother. She has never been as close to her mother as her father; who understands her. Gabby's life, though, now seems taken over by daydreams; lots of daydreams. Now, they are starting to affect her schoolwork and life. However, Gabby's special teacher may just find a way to help her turn those daydreams into writing.

 

Comments: I really liked this book. It won an award, and I can certainly see why. The book is very short and told through verses/poems. The story is laid out clearly and the reader will receive all the information he needs to know to follow the book; however, the reader won't find much more than the necessary information. It isn't a very detailed book; it is very to-the-point and short, which makes it a refreshing read that isn't complicated and requires a little less thinking and brain-power to understand. The main character, Gabby can probably speak to anyone who has been through or is going through a hard time; whatever it  may be.
Nikki Grimes is an amazing author; her work on the book The Road to Paris, well, it was just amazing. I really enjoyed that book (the review for that book is on here too - to access it quickly, just click on the tag Author:Nikki Grimes tag at the bottom of this post!) In fact, I think that The Road to Paris is even better than this book! I just love that book! (Okay, I know, this is supposed to be a review for Words with Wings)
Read anything written by her - there is a reason her books have been awarded.

This book is a nice quick read that is suitable for all ages.

 

Complaints: None. I would complain about it being too short, but I thought that it was tastefully done.

 

Rating: 5 stars

Ruby on the Outside

Title: Ruby on the Outside:

Author: Nora Raleigh Baskin

 

Summary: It's the summer before middle school and 11-year-old Ruby is worried about starting 6th grade. She wants to make a true friend, and when she meets a girl, Margalit Tipps at her apartment complex's pool, she thinks she has found the one. The two become fast friends, but Ruby still can't tell her everything - she can't bring herself to tell anyone her deep secret.

Ruby's mother is in prison. She went to prison when Ruby was just about 5 and Ruby lives with her aunt, Matoo (Ma, too) and she visits her real mother once a week on Saturdays - and she will until she is 31 years old. Ruby has never told anyone this and as she gets closer to Margalit in friendship, she finds it hard not to.

However, just as Ruby gets up the courage to tell her, Ruby realizes that Margalit's family's past seems to cross with Ruby's mother's past.

 

Comments: I think this was a wonderful book. Margalit and Ruby were both very likeable. Poor Ruby had such stress on her at such a young age that the reader can't help but feel sorry for her. The conflicting thoughts going on in her mind about whether or not to truly love her mother or whether or not she wanted to see her seemed very realistic to me.

I thought that Margalit's and Ruby's crossing pasts was just such a huge coincidence.

This book was very light, despite the heavy subjects that were displayed in it. It feels like a less-dramatic and less mature version of the book All the Things You Are. (I have a review for that book on this site - it is very similar to this book in that both mothers are in jail - however, they are both very different too and I recommend both).

I would still rate this as a 10+ just because of the prison themes and the descriptions of how her mother got in prison. There are some mature themes, but they are dealt with in a child-appropriate way, unlike other books (Nest).

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars!

 

 

White Fur Flying

Title: White Fur Flying

 

Author: Patricia MacLachlan

 

Summary: Zoey and her family (sister, mom, & dad) are a foster family for Great Pyrenees dogs. They take in any Great Pyrenees in need and they train them and give them love until they are adopted by their forever family.

One day, new people move into the house across from Zoey. The boy, Phillip, is strange - he has just stopped talking. Everyone is worried. He doesn't talk anymore - he doesn't even make an effort.

Maybe, the Great Pyrenees and Zoey's family will be the key to Phillip talking again.  

 

Comments: This book was a book that I could really relate to, because my family, like Zoey's family, also fosters dogs. It is rare for me to read a book that mentions fostering dogs. Usually, adoption of dogs is the only topic covered in most books. I think that this book will raise awareness for the importance of fostering dogs. Adoption isn't the only option!

The book is suitable for all ages and I like that because books that can be enjoyed by all readers are becoming few and far between it seems. Phillip does go missing for a time (only a few hours) and there is just enough drama to not make it overly dramatic and just enough suspense to not make younger readers overly worried about Phillip. This book is exciting and fun to read and can be enjoyed by all!

The book was a little quick for my taste, but it is definitely a good choice for a read-aloud book or sibling story time or something. I know that I enjoyed reading this book with my sisters!

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars!

 

 

Kizzy Ann Stamps

Title: Kizzy Ann Stamps

 

Author: Jeri Watts

 

Summary: Kizzy Ann is a smart and courageous girl growing up in 1963. Kizzy Ann's life is changed when she finds out that the schools in her town will now be integrated rather than segregated. Kizzy Ann is worried about going to the "white school" - she is not white and she has a long scar down her face that makes her fear what the other children at the new school will think of her.

Starting the new school is somewhat easy, however she does get trouble from a lot of the "white kids." Her brother is having a very hard time at his new high school and Kizzy Ann worries that the experience is changing him.

As she starts the new school, she finds a friend in an older man who helps Kizzy Ann train her dog, a border collie, Shag, so that they compete together in dog trials. However, it doesn't seem easy at first - Kizzy Ann isn't so sure that they will let her enter because of the color of her skin.

 

 

Comments: I loved this book! I wasn't really sure about reading it at first, but I am SO glad that I did. Kizzy Ann is so likeable and Shag is too. The book is told through letters to Kizzy Ann's new teacher at her new integrated school (the teacher is very nice). The whole book wrapped up nicely in the end - but not too nice to be unbelievable.

This book did deal with the integrated/segregated problem going on back in those days, so I'd say that the reader would have to already have a clear understanding of that before reading the book, because it does not really go into the background details of segregated/integrated like The Lions of Little Rock does. There is also some content that is more suitable for 10+.

 

Complaint: NONE!

 

Rating: 5 stars and beyond....

This Journal Belongs to Ratchet

Title: This Journal Belongs to Ratchet

 

Author: Nancy J. Cavanaugh

 

Summary: 11 year old Rachel "Ratchet" (a nickname earned from fixing cars with her father) is a homeschooled girl who moves from town to town fixing up homes with her father in exchange for free rent. Her father is a bit eccentric and unusual, and because she is homeschooled and is often helping her father fix cars, she does not get out enough to make friends - not that anyone seems interested in being friends with her anyway.

As Ratchet spends time alone in the house after working on school and cars with her father, she always can't help but notice a special box that moves with them wherever they go yet it is never opened. Ratchet suspects that the box contains information about her mother - her mother that died when she was too young to remember her well.

The book details Ratchet's life as she learns to work with others to save an important park and as she navigates through finding true friends, being different, and discovering secrets about her past.

 

Comments: I enjoyed this book. It is written through Ratchet's school work in English/Language Arts class. She is homeschooled so she just writes whatever the lesson guide says to write (essay, poem, etc.), and she always makes her life and what is going on as the subject. I think that this was a very creative way to write the book.

Ratchet was not stereotyped like some homeschooled characters in books. She had a great personality, she wanted friends, and when she did talk to people, she obviously had good social skills. However, she did seem a little secluded from the world for my taste, but it wasn't too bad.

Ratchet was likeable and any reader will find themselves cheering for her. I would recommend this book to children 10+. There really isn't much iffy content, except some boy-girl stuff, details on her mother's death and what happened before it, and just some other minor things.

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars!

 

 

A Handful of Stars

Title: A Handful of Stars

 

Author: Cynthia Lord

 

Summary: It's blueberry harvesting season in Maine and Lily is helping her grandparents run their shop during the busy time. One day, Lily's blind dog, Lucky, runs away from Lily and is caught just a few fields over by a migrant blueberry harvester who is Lily's age; Salma. Salma is very nice and the two become fast friends; doing lots of things together. Lily likes Salma because Salma is invested in trying to help Lucky see again; she is one of the only ones who believes in Lily's costly plan to save his failed eyesight.

To raise the money, Lily persuades Salma to enter the Blueberry Queen pageant to try and win a monetary prize to help Lucky get what he needs. However, the idea of Salma, someone not native to Maine, participating in the pageant is not an idea easily accepted by all.

 

Comments: I loved this book. It started out slow in the first few chapters, but it did not disappoint as I got further into the book. Both girls were likeable characters. Both girls' characters were well developed, though they were not very detailed or complex - most likely in hopes that if the characters were a bit more vague in background, then the reader would be able to identify or related to them easier.

I have read some of Cynthia Lord's other works (Rules & Touch Blue) and I have enjoyed the writing in both (especially Touch Blue). Her writing always creates a clear story with characters that are easy to relate to and I love her detailing of cozy little towns such as those in Touch Blue and this book.

She is a wonderful writer, so naturally when I saw this book I knew that I had to read it!

This book is very good, however it could be more suitable for an audience that is a bit older; younger readers may not understand Lily's parents' backgrounds (both parents are dead/gone when the story takes place), and some may not understand the hard time that Salma gets for entering the pageant. However, this s a wonderful story to help them understand too.

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars!

 

Counting by 7s

Title: Counting by 7s

 

Author: Holly Goldberg Sloan

 

Summary: 12-year-old Willow is a child genius who loves diagnosing medical conditions and planting/nature. As she starts middle school, she is sent to see a child counselor (by the school's recommendation) and during her meets with him, she meets two other children that are older than her; a brother and sister. She slowly forms a small friendship with them.

One day, she arrives at her house to find that her parents died earlier in the day in a car accident. Willow's friends, Mai and Quang-ha's mother offers to take her in while she waits for foster care, adoption, etc.

As Willow slowly recreates her life, she shows that one who goes through tragedy can come out being better than before.

 

Comments: I really enjoyed this book. It was recommended to me by a friend and I'm so glad that I decided to read it!

All the characters in the story were pretty well-developed for the most part, though I might have wanted to see a little more detail on Dell, the counselor.

Willow was such a likeable character and it was heartbreaking to see her going through such a tragedy; because her parents just seemed like such kind people who really understood her and I didn't know whether anyone else in the book could have that same connection with her. (Yes, I get pretty involved and intense in my reading - don't worry, I do know that she is just a fictional character!)

While I loved the book, I thought that the way Mai and Quang-ha lived with their mother just seemed somewhat unrealistic, even though they were poor. However, that can be overlooked and may have just been a little exaggerated to add some more intensity and drama to the book.

While this book is great and such a fine piece of writing, I must say that it is probably suitable for ages 10-12+ just because it is fairly long and some younger readers may be upset by all the tragedies and unfairness in this book.

This is probably going to go on my Top 10 list!

 

Complaints: I feel like the book might've wrapped up just a little too nicely; however it was good that the reader was able to find closure to the story by the end of the book.

 

Rating: 5 stars!

 

The Truth About Twinkie Pie

Title: The Truth About Twinkie Pie

Author: Kat Yeh

 

Summary: Gigi (Galileo Galilei - a name she hates) and her sister Didi (Delta Dawn) have just moved to a town in New York; having previously lived in a southern trailer park. Gigi misses her mother; whom she believes to have died when she was young. Gigi is just the average tween girl.

Then, after starting a new school (a very fancy one), she begins to make friends with a boy named Trip and enemies with Trip's other friend, a nasty girl, Mace. Gigi also makes friends with some other girls.

After finding out a secret that may reveal who her mother really is; Gigi takes matters into her own hands and flees her town in the middle of the night to see if she can find her real mother who really may still be alive.

Towards the end of the book, Gigi discovers many hidden secrets about herself and others around her that she never knew.

 

Comments: (Sorry if the summary wasn't that great for this book - I had a hard time coming up with a good summary for this one). Gigi and Didi are both likeable and unlikeable at different points in the story, which I guess just makes them more realistic. The book has recipes throughout the pages from their mother's recipe book for interesting dishes such as Twinkie Pie.

The book is seemingly innocent at first, but things get much deeper as the story goes on - Gigi sneaks away in the middle of the night and does a LOT of dangerous things that aren't necessarily a good influence on young readers. Also, there are some underlying themes in this book that aren't really appropriate and are only briefly covered. I would've liked a more detailed and in-depth scene between Gigi and who she thinks is her mother.

This book was not totally appropriate for children under age 12, in my opinion.

The book is still good though, and it is a captivating read, for sure.

 

Complaints: I feel like a few underlying themes could've been left out and that some details could've been left out while more details could've been added in other places instead.

 

Rating: 4 stars  

The Road to Paris

Title: The Road to Paris

 

Author: Nikki Grimes

 

Summary: Young Paris and her brother Malcom have been protecting each other while living in the foster system. One day, they get separated - Malcom is sent to a boys foster home and Paris is sent to live with another foster family; the Lincoln family. Paris is scared and upset at first; she misses her brother very much. The Lincolns are very nice, but Paris, with previous experiences with bad foster homes, finds it hard to trust them.

As the days and weeks pass, Paris begins to adjust to life with the Lincolns; she makes friends at school and gets along nicely with her foster siblings. There are a few bumps in the road, with one of Paris's friend's family turning out to be prejudiced against her (the family is "white" and Paris is not). However, Paris does make another good friend.

Then, one day, she is invited by her mother to come back home; her mother is ready for Paris and Malcom to come back to her and start a better life. Paris doesn't have to go, so she has to make the tough decision on what to do.

 

Comments: I really liked this book! It won an award for a reason! I think it would be a fine read for somewhat mature children 8+. There is some account of the harsh behaviors Paris and her brother were previously subjected to before the book took place. I would consider this book to be a good pre-read to One for the Murphys - another favorite of mine that is quite similar.

Paris is likeable and a very strong character and the end of the book is surprising.

 

Complaints: It was a little short and it seemed to pass by very quickly - however that could be a plus for the younger or reluctant reader!

 

Rating: 5 stars  

Listen, Slowly

Title: Listen, Slowly

 

Author: Thanhha Lai

 

Summary: Mai, a smart Californian tween's summertime plans are turned upside down when her grandmother, Ba, insists on going to Vietnam; the hometown of all of Mai's relatives and parents to find closure on the missing status of her husband - with him having been missing since the end of the war (Vietnam war, I believe). Mai isn't excited - she'd rather be surfing or going to the beach with her friends.

Mai doesn't like Viet Nam at first, but as her trip begins to unfold and things begin to happen, Mai finds freedom and friends and closure for Ba in a place where she never thought she'd want to be.

 

Comments: I really liked this book - it was long, but it was a touching read that kept me captivated until the end. Mai, I didn't find to be easily likeable. She was quite whiny and vocal in her complaints over having her summer plans ruined and having to *gasp* go to another country and experience something new. Mai claimed to be smart and low-key in the trend department, yet she obsessed over Him, a boy who she crushes on back in California for basically the whole book. When Mai wasn't criticizing the way of life in Viet Nam, she was full of unnecessary self-praise - making her even more unlikeable. At times towards the close of the book and resolution, I thought I could see glimpses of her changing, and while she had changed by the end of the book; I didn't find it to be enough change for her to be absolutely likeable. It is possible the author was trying to make a point with her coming in bratty and leaving a changed girl, but she didn't change enough for that vision to work or for that point to get across.

This book was great - I loved learning about Viet Nam; I just wish the eyes that I saw it through (Mai's eyes) would've been just a little less snooty, whiny, and full of self-praise and complaints. I would've preferred someone who maybe wasn't thrilled with the idea of running off to another country, but didn't act like a blatant brat about it. Her parents and grandmother put up with a LOT more than my parents would've and had there been a punishment for being so bratty; maybe she wouldn't have been that way.

This book is rated for 12+ because there is some graphic war content and some more mature themes between Mai and her crazy teen friend Montana and Him (things such as romance and clear references to undergarments like thongs). While Mai isn't the most likeable character, this book can really be a great teaching tool for learning Vietnam/Viet Nam history and as long as a girl understands that acting like that isn't acceptable, then the book is just fine!

Complaints: See above in the comments for my complaints.

 

Rating: 4 stars (I was just really turned off by Mai's bratty, self-centered attitude in the beginning.)

What the Moon Said

Title: What the Moon Said

 

Author: Gayle Rosengren

 

Summary: Esther is a nine/ten year old girl living in the big city with her family during a tough time; The Great Depression. Her family is struck by the hard time and they move to a farm; leaving Esther's beloved city life behind, but taking her mother's superstitious ways with them. Esther grows to love life on the farm, with her new school and best friend Bethany. However, Esther longs for her mother to tell her that she loves her or to hug her; like her friends' mothers all do. Instead, Esther's mother is less open with her affection towards her than towards her siblings; causing Esther to believe she doesn't love her at all. However, when Esther suffers a life threatening incident and their farm crops begin to fail, Esther realizes that maybe her mother really does love her after all.

 

Comments: I loved this book! Historical fiction is my favorite, and this story from The Great Depression did not disappoint. The book was beautifully written and any reader can relate to Esther in some way; she is a very original and loveable character. This book is fine for a reader ages 8+ (as long as you are okay with the mother's superstitious ways, which nearly take Esther's friend away form her). I think this book could be a new favorite! I loved the end; with Esther's realization of her mother's true love for her, and realizing that love is more of an action than a word.

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars!

Franny Parker

Title: Franny Parker

 

Author: Hannah Roberts McKinnon

 

Summary: Franny Parker is a 13 year old living on a farm with her family in Oklahoma. She loves animals and decides to begin an animal rehabilitation/hospital center. As she is beginning to rescue the animals she finds and comes to love, a new family moves in next door to her; a boy and his mother. The boy, Lucas, is very interested in animals too and the two become friends.

However, Lucas's abusive father comes around, and things begin to change, and then, Lucas goes missing. As mystery and tragedy take over her summer, she learns how to help not only animals - but others - in need.

Comments: I LOVED this book. Franny was such a likeable character and her family was quite interesting too. I liked the friendship between Franny and Lucas; it was just two friends together - there was not really any romance or any other things like that that would turn me off the book. The book was beautifully written and I really, really enjoyed it. Just because of the details of the abusive father, I would rate this probably 10+ or maybe even 12+ - judge the maturity level of the child reading the book first.

Complaints: None. This is a favorite now!

 

Rating: 5 stars!

Glory Be

Title: Glory Be

Author: Augusta Scattergood

Summary: Gloriana "Glory" is a girl about to turn 12 in Mississippi during the 1960s' while her town was still segregated between black and white. It is a summer of change for Glory. The pool, the place where Glory was to hold her birthday party, closes down for the summer, she meets a new friend; a "Yankee" girl, Laura, her sister Jesslyn becomes more mysterious and grows apart from Glory, and with their families' different opinions on segregation, things become different between Glory and her friend.

Comments: I really enjoyed this book. It seems like there are a lot of books that deal with this era, and I believe this is one of the better ones, and probably one of the better selections for a younger reader (10-11 range). My personal favorite book that deals with this time is The Lions of Little Rock, but that is probably a better choice for the older reader.

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars!

Lara's Gift

Title: Lara's Gift

 

Author: Annemarie O'Brien

 

Summary: Lara is growing up in 1914 Russia where she works for the Tsar with her father, breeding borzoi dogs in the hunting kennels. Lara wants to be the best borzoi breeder for the Tsar, however, when her mother has a baby boy, it is determined that the boy will take her place and inherit the job of breeding the borzoi dogs. Lara is upset, and soon finds herself spending her days cleaning and helping her mother. Lara knows that she belongs as the breeder for the next generation, because she has visions that can save the lives of the people and dogs.

 

Commnts: I really enjoyed this book. I love borzois, so I knew that I had to read it. Lara was likeable and while the story is apropriate, there is some pretty graphic content, so I'd say maybe a mature 10 to a 12+ for the age rating. Lara was likeable and I thought the ending was well done.

Complaints: None.
Rating: 5 stars! 

 

 

Flying the Dragon

Title: Flying the Dragon

 

Author: Natalie Dias Lorenzi

 

Summary: Sorano "Skye" is a Japanese-American girl growing up in Virginia who is focused on one thing; to make the All Star Soccer Team for the summer.

Hiroshi is a Japanese boy living in Japan with his parents and grandfather; a skilled kite maker.

However, Hiroshi's grandfather is not well; he has cancer. Hiroshi's family must come to the US if grandfather wants any chances of treatment to get well again.

In US, Hiroshi and his family move nearby his cousin; Skye. Soon, Hiroshi has to share Grandfather with Skye since he is also her grandfather as well. Hiroshi knows no English and Skye is enlisted to help him in English if he can help her learn Japanese. The two do not get along well at all at first. However, after a family tragedy, the two come together for a kite contest to honor their grandfather.

 

Comments: I enjoyed this book. Every other chapter was Skye's POV and every other was Hiroshi's view. It was an interesting story; but just because it was a bit sad (the grandfather does die), I would recommend a 10+ age rating for this book. As well as the tragedy in the book, there are also some minor inapropriate words as well, such as "sucks". However, not all families consider that a bad word (mine does). I wouldn't let that stop anyone from reading the book though.

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 4 stars

 

 

Selling Hope

Title: Selling Hope

 

Author: Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

 

Summary: 13 year old Hope is traveling with her vaudeville troop along with her father in 1910 - right around the time when Halley's Comet was going to pass through. Hope is tired of traveling with her vaudeville troop and she dreams of settling down in a small town with her father. While passing through the town she used to live in before her mother died and she joined vaudeville 5 years prior, Hope sees her chance to finally get the "normal" life she wants.

To get money for rent and other expenses they will come across while settling down, Hope invents "anti-comet" pills to sell to people who fear the comet. The pills sell quickly and many take to the idea. But then, Hope begins to think about where home really is and where she would really be happy.

 

Comments: I thought this story was very interesting, and I enjoyed it (I am partial to historic fiction though). Hope was likeable and I was fascinated with the descriptions of vaudeville and how Hope was so young yet she was a performer. I also found the fear behind Halley's Comet interesting too. I don't think that anyone under the age of 10 would get everything out of this book though, so I recommend this for 10+.

 

Complaints: None

 

Rating: 5 stars

The 2nd Life of Abigail Walker

Title: The Second Life of Abigail Walker

 

Author: Frances O'Roark Dowell

 

Summary: Abby Walker is a nice girl and a great friend, though not many notice this because of the two girls she has grouped up with; two mean girls who pretend to be her friend but tease her about her weight when adults aren't around. Abby really isn't overweight, she just is a bit chubbier than the others. Everyone acts meanly towards her because of this; even her own parents.

Abby feels alone, until one day when she meets a boy in the woods who takes her to his home where his grandmother and recovering father who just returned from the service. Abby then sets into helping the boy's father finish his research on Lewis and Clark. Soon she is spending more time with them and trying to ignore her life of parents pushing her to diet and mean "friends" teasing her. This second life just might be the thing for Abby to gain confidence and be happy.

 

Comments: I liked this book. It was kind of sad; the way her mother just wanted everyone to be happy; yet she couldn't see that Abby's "friends" were just out to be mean to her. I felt bad for Abby, and I was so glad when she found Anders and his family. It was nice to see how meeting them helped her throughout the book.

I recommend this book for 10+ just because of the age of the characters and the teasing about Abby's weight.

 

Complaints: The book was nice; but I felt like there wasn't much closure at the end; because her parents still weren't exactly nice to her.

 

Rating: 4 stars   

The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet

Title: The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet 

Author: Erin Dionne 

Summary: 8th grader Hamlet longs to be a normal middle school student with a normal life, but that proves to be hard, with a genius 7-year-old sister (who is in her same grade!) and Shakespearian scholars for parents. Hamlet's social life gets even harder as she must help her young, somewhat clueless sister navigate middle school.

Comments: I enjoyed reading this book. Hamlet is a likable character, and her cute yet somewhat naive sister is likable too. I found it a bit unrealistic; with her sister being a genius and her parents being so devoted to Shakespeare to the point of hardly keeping up with the modern world, but it made for a fun story anyway. It was still an enjoyable read though; and while it would probably be suitable for most reading ages, I would recommend this book to those who are 10+ just because of the age of the majority of the characters. There is also a bit of an underlying romantic theme, which also contributes to my decision of readers being 10+. 

Overall, the book was pretty good, though probably not my favorite. 

Complaints: None! 

Rating: 5 stars 

All the Things You Are

Title: All the Things You Are

 

Author: Courtney Sheinmel

 

Summary: 12 year old Carly Wheeler is living an exciting life. She has an awesome stepfather (her Faux Pa), stepsiblings (who come to her home occasionally), a great best friend Annie, and a mother with an exciting job on the set of a popular soap opera, Lovelock Falls.

However, one day, everything changes suddenly. Her mother is arrested for embezzling funds from Lovelock Falls. Everything changes. Faux Pa might want a divorce, her mother pleads guilty and is sent away, and her best friends are leaving her out and ignoring her. 

Carly doesn't know what to do and most of all she just doesn't know what to think of her mother.

 

Comments: I enjoyed this book. Carly was realistic and likeable and it was interesting to see her exciting, wealthy life before her mother was caught. Then, things really changed once her mother was caught. It was sad to watch Carly's life fall apart and I really felt sorry for her. I thought that the ending was especially good because it showed that things don't have to wrap up perfectly for there to still be hope.

Of course, with the arrest, there was some mature themes and it could be frightening to some younger kids or inappropriate. However, I thought that it was written in a non-frightening way and I enjoyed the book (I am 13). So, I'd probably say either a mature 10+ on this or a 12+.

The book was wonderful though, and I'd hate for anyone to miss out on it!

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars

Summer of the Gypsy Moths

Title: Summer of the Gypsy Moths

 

Author: Sara Pennypacker

 

Summary: Stella is staying with her great-aunt Louise and her great-aunt's foster child, Angel. One day, Louise dies suddenly and Stella and Angel are left alone. Stella's mother has some problems and is gallivanting around the country for work and Angel is an orphan. Neither girl wants to go back into the foster care system, so they hide the fact that Louise died, until one day they wonder if they can really hid it anymore.

 

Comments: This book was even better than I expected. I liked the details of the struggles both girls went through, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the setting. Both girls seemed like how real girls would react in that sort of situation.

The situation itself, and how long they hid it, just seemed a bit unrealistic. I couldn't imagine having two girls living alone right under my nose and not figuring out that something was suspicious.. I thought that the concept may not have been the right book to place both these characters in, but with the unrealistic situation put aside, I really enjoyed it and I felt close to both characters.

I would recommend this book for kids 10+.

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars

When Audrey Met Alice

Title: When Audrey Met Alice

 

Author: Rebecca Behrens

 

Summary: Audrey's mother was recently elected as president, and ever since Audrey has moved into 1600 (the White House), she has felt out of place at school; with her only friend being a boy, Quint, who she wants as a boyfriend. She is sick of having to deal with guards and feels like she is "grounded" always in the White House because of all the security that must follow her.

Audrey stumbles across the diary of Alice Roosevelt from her time of living in the White House. Audrey takes to Alice immediately and loves how Alice just wants to eat up life. Audrey is inspired by Alice's free spirit and Audrey tries to have one too; only things don't work out the way she wants.

 

Comments: Audrey was a likeable character, and I liked that her mother was the president, rather than her father. I think that will be inspirational to a lot of girls who have similar dreams. This book would've done okay as a young novel, however, both girls were teens in the book, and there was a lot of talk over very controversial subjects. One of the main focuses of the book was her trying to date Quint (a friend) and standing up for same-sex/gay marriage.

Honestly, I was surprised they were continuing to address a topic like that (same-sex marriage) in a book for younger girls, because I felt like the book was really just a tool to try and sell me a bunch of propaganda - like there was some sort of hidden agenda. I didn't particularly enjoy that and would've definitely preferred the book had there not been all of that in it (couldn't the author have chosen something else?)

The book also showed Alice smoking cigarettes and Audrey almost smokes too (but realizes how wrong it is). I couldn't decide whether this was a teachable moment in the book or another hidden agenda about how smoking is a choice.

The whole time I felt like the author couldn't decide whether she was writing for a young adult or for a child and I didn't think the book did a particularly good job of juggling the two. I came in with high expectations and I have to admit I was a bit disappointed.  

This book would be rated 12+ I think.

 

Complaints: I said it all in the comments.

 

Rating: 4 stars

Pieces of Georgia

Title: Pieces of Georgia

 

Author: Jen Bryant

 

Summary: 13 year old Georgia is an aspiring artist, still upset by the death of her mother 6 years prior to the start of the book. Georgia lives with her dad in a trailer in the countryside near her wealthy friend Tiffany's home. Georgia feels alone at times, but things change when she begins to busy herself with applying for an art scholarship and going to the art museum that she has mysteriously received a year-long pass for. Georgia changes and grows throughout the book and it is nice to see her find some closure at the end - it shows much art can really heal someone; the art of painting and writing.

 

Comments: This book was nice and written in a sort of poetic format which seems to be popular for books right now. I enjoyed the book, but I wish it would've been more descriptive and a bit longer (I finished it in a half hour). It was interesting, but I felt the unnecessary points were discussed too long and the plot that actually made the book interesting was not discussed enough.

I would recommend this to either a really mature 10+ or a 12+ just because there are a lot of drug references in this book, and Tiffany, Georgia's best friend, begins taking sleeping pills in an unhealthy attempt to keep awake due to her busy schedule. This is obviously not selling off the idea of healthy habits to kids and teens reading this book, and for that reason, I think this subplot should've been left out of the book.

 

Complaints: The references to drugs and drug abuse. Unnecessary.

 

Rating: 4 stars (it was a good book; just had a few flaws)

The Wonder of Charlie Anne

Title: The Wonder of Charlie Anne

 

Author: Kimberly Newton Fusco

 

Summary: Charlie Anne is a girl growing up in the Depression era with her siblings, father, and Mirabel, a cousin. Her father and older brother go off to work at a job building railroads; leaving Charlie Anne home with her other siblings. Charlie is left doing all of the chores under Mirabel's strict watch and the only break she gets is when she goes by the river to talk with her mother who recently died in childbirth. She feels like she can talk with her.

Then, her neighbor, Mr. Jolly, brings home his wife and his wife's adopted daughter; a black girl named Phoebe who has a fun spirit that she shows through wearing pants, reading, and swinging. Charlie Anne becomes friends with her, but their friendship is threatened through the prejudices of the town; especially when it comes to Mrs. Jolly opening a school and letting everyone attend.

So many things happen, but when Charlie Anne comes to Phoebe's rescue, they truly realize nothing can keep them apart.

 

Comments: I enjoyed this book! I'd been waiting to read it for a while! Charlie Anne is very likeable and very real through her actions, thoughts, and emotions. I liked her a lot and felt like we had a connection.

Throughout the book, I found it hard to tell whether Charlie Anne's connection with her mother was being portrayed as a supernatural thing or as a coping thing for Charlie Anne to deal with the loss. However, I felt like it could've been portrayed as supernatural, because Charlie Anne's mother tells her something is not right with Phoebe in one instance. Either way, it is a nice and heartwarming connection. This book portrayed emotions nicely; making me feel sad for Charlie Anne at the right times and excited for her at the right times too.

This book would be good for about the 10+ range.

 

Complaints: None!

 

Rating: 5 stars  

The War That Saved My Life

Title: The War that Saved my Life

 

Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

 

Summary: 9 year old Ada lives overseas during the outbreak of WW2 with her evil mother and 6 year old brother, Jamie in a small apartment. Ada has a bad club foot that was never treated, and her mother hates her for it. Her mother forces her to stay in and to not walk. Ada longs for something more - to be able to be like her brother who is allowed out on the streets to run and explore.

When children begin to be sent away to the country due to bomb possibilities with the outbreak of the war, Ada knows she has to go with her brother, who is supposed to be sent off without her.

The two of them eventually event up with a nice lady, Susan Smith. Susan is kind towards them and it is obvious throughout the book that despite some acts of frustration or resentment, that she loves them.

Ada begins to read, write, and become independent. However, things change when it appears her mother may be coming back for them...

 

Comments: Oh, I loved this book. It was a bit of a depressing read, sure, but it was amazing too. It really portrayed emotion well, and Ada was likeable and so was her brother Jamie, as well as Susan. It is rewarding to watch Ada make progress in her life and the suspense left me anxious to turn the next page (I read the whole thing on a 2 hour car ride and while it was a long book; it was so good that I plowed through it). I think this book could potentially win an award for the beautiful writing. Everything is portrayed so nicely and one can really feel as though they have stepped back into history. This is perfect for the reader who doesn't enjoy learning boring facts about history, but rather reading them in an exciting way through a fiction story.

The book does have a few graphic scenes and descriptions, so I'd probably suggest a 10+ on the mature side.

I really enjoyed this book and I'd really like to see a sequel or something similar be published! This would make a good movie too! ;P

 

Complaints: I thought there were a few underlying themes that were not really necessary to the book.

 

Rating: 5 + stars (this is a fabulous book!!!)

Dear Hank Williams

Title: Dear Hank Williams

 

Author: Kimberly Willis Holt

 

Summary: Tate P. Ellerby is a girl growing up in post-WW2 Rippling Creek, Louisiana. For her assignment for school, she has to pick a pen pal. The teacher suggests a pen pal from a Japanese school, but Tate knows she just has to write to the up and coming star, Hank Williams. She becomes his pen pal, even though it is completely one-sided (besides 3 autographed pictures).

The story (told only through Tate's letters to Hank) starts out with Tate posing herself as a girl living with her cosmetic selling Aunt Patty Cake and broken hearted Uncle Jolly (who is trying to find himself a girl XD) and little brother/bother, Frog (nickname), while her mother is off filming movies in Hollywood as a famous singer and her father is off taking photographs all over the world for magazines.

However, the truth soon comes out about where her parents really are and what is really happening in Tate's tragic life. Tate is an energetic girl, who despite being through so much, is just such a shining light and someone I could imagine being friends with.

 

Comments: I loved this book! Tate originally tried to make Hank Williams think she was something she wasn't, but throughout the story, more and more of the truth about her life was told and by the end, the story had turned pretty tragic, yet it was exciting too.

Some children may not want to read this book just because of all the tragedies, so I'd suggest that a parent read it first, because there is an unexpected death in the book that some young children might not like.

I personally really enjoyed and I want to see more books like this! I loved it!

 

Complaints: I think the unexpected death was unnecessary and didn't really fit into the story - it felt like it was just thrown in. 

 

Rating: 5 stars!!!!!!!!!

Chasing the Milky Way

Title: Chasing the Milky Way

 

Author: Erin E. Moulton

 

Summary: 12 year old Lucy Peevey lives in a trailer park with her mother (who suffers from a mental illness similar to Tess's mother's mental illness in the book Rocky Road). Lucy spends her days programming her robot for the robot contest she and her best friend Cam, and younger sister, Izzy dream of going to. They almost have all of the money saved up, and they think that Lucy's mother will be well enough to take them. However, after a serious run-in with the school bully, Lucy and Cam get in trouble and her mother shows up at the school furious. The police are called, but Lucy, Izzy, Cam, and Ms. Peevey escape. They go on a huge adventure, stealing an RV, and outsmarting the authorities many times.

However, Lucy's mother crashes one day and Lucy has to manage the RV by herself and get them to their robot competition where they know that their dreams and their ticket out of the trailer park, await them. Things don't go as planned though, when they wind up getting caught by authorities. Will they try to escape again or will Lucy's mother get the help she needs?

 

Comments: This book was very interesting, and an exciting read. Lucy has a lot of responsibility and is nearly like a mother to her young sister, Izzy. Lucy  knows how to drive despite her young age, because her grandmother (who recently passed) taught her. I found the book unrealistic, but I liked the update they gave at the end of the book; describing how they were doing after they got help.

 

There is some profanities in this book and God's name is said at inappropriate times quite frequently, so this book may not be suitable for those who do not want that language in their books (my family doesn't approve, but I did not know before I read the book). While I was disappointed to see the language in this book, I wouldn't let that stop an older reader from enjoying this book!

 

Complaints: I didn't like the use of profanity in the book.

 

Rating: 4 stars (because of profanity)

The Other Half of My Heart

Title: The Other Half of My Heart

 

Author: Sundee T. Frazier

 

Summary: Keira and Minni are a pair of African American/biracial twins. But by looking at them, one wouldn't know it. Minni is pink skinned and red haired, while Keira is dark brown skinned and kinky curly haired. They consider themselves best friends and they consider themselves both African American/black, because that really is what they are, despite the color of Minni's skin. However, both girls; especially Minni, are becoming increasingly aware that they are treated differently by people who do not know they are twins; all because of the color of their skin.

 Their friendship is put to the test when their Grandmother Johnson enters them into the Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America beauty program/pageant.

The girls do not know Grandmother Johnson very well, but they are both suddenly whisked away on a plane to her home alone, where they prepare for the program. Grandmother Johnson seems to have a bias against Keira, who, like her, is dark skinned. At the beauty pageant, Minni feels out of place because of her light skin in a sea of dark skinned girls. She manages to make a friend, but Keira is having a great time, finally being at a program where she is not the minority. Minni gets a feel of how Keira feels everyday when she is a minority at places like school and around town. Both girls get into a small argument as Keria begins to question whether Minni thinks she is better because of her skin color and why Grandmother Johnson seems to like Minni more.

The girls go to the pageant and repair things in the end, realizing that they are really the other half of each others' hearts.

 

Comments: I enjoyed this book. Minni and Keira obviously had a special connection, and it was unfortunate that Grandmother Johnson had to cause Keira to question whether they were really as close as she thought. However, the racial questions both girls had probably would've come up later anyway. I felt bad when the two girls were doubting each other, and it was surprising and sad to see Keira treated differently than Minni by some people, even though the book was set in modern times. The girls both had a loyalty to each other though, and they did both succeed in surviving Grandmother Johnson, who actually had a lot more to her personality and reasons for bias than one might guess.

I would recommend this book for kids ages 10+ just because very young children could be confused by the fact that there are still racial biases today, and they may be confused at the different race questions the girls have. For a child of 10+ though, this book would be very educational and interesting to read.

 

Complaints: None!

 

Rating: 5 stars!