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!!!)