The Red Umbrella

Title: The Red Umbrella

 

Author: Christina Diaz Gonzalez

 

Summary: 14-year-old Lucia Alvarez, growing up during the communist revolution, lives a carefree life with her parents and little brother. Her days consist of gossiping with her fashionable friend Ivette and dreaming of the dance and her 15th birthday party (a special celebration in her culture).

But it all changes once Ivette and other friends of Lucia begin to join the revolution clubs for children. Soon Lucia's friends are becoming more and more brainwashed into believing that the revolution is right. But Lucia's parents still disagree.

Then, the situation becomes even more dangerous and Lucia and her brother are shipped away to live in America until their parents can come retrieve them after the revolution or whenever they can get away.

The 2 of them move into a little Nebraska farming community and slowly make a life for themselves. Lucia starts high school and makes a true friend, and their foster parents are very nice and treat them like their own.

But then, something happens to Lucia's father and Lucia and her brother fear that they may never see their parents in America.

 

Comments: I liked this book and it was an enjoyable yet quick-paced read. For the readers who enjoyed I Lived on Butterfly Hill, this book will probably hit the spot. The book seems like it could be classified as almost more of a teen book, Lucia after all begins to drive in the book, grow to be a young lady, and there are also some more mature themes when Ivette's letters from her revolution experiences come into the story.
Lucia is a likeable girl and her character definitely grows throughout the story, in a rather pleasing way. I was quite impressed with the amount of time that Ms. Gonzalez could cover in this story, without making the story feel rushed in the least bit.
I would recommend this book for 12+, because there are some more mature themes, and there is also one time when while learning English, Lucia accidently says a cuss word instead of the word "beach" (I'll leave you to guess where that goes), but it is said by mistake of course.
I enjoyed this book, but for younger children just being introduced to this idea, I recommend I Lived on Butterfly Hill and then The Red Umbrella once the reader is a little older.

Rating: 5 stars

Willow Run

Title: Willow Run

 

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

 

Summary: 11-year-old Margaret "Meggie" Dillon's life in the sleepy town of Rockaway in 1944, is turning upside down. Meggie's family, especially her grandfather, are being threatened by neighborhood boys who are suspicious of the Dillon family because of Grandfather's German accent. Then, Meggie's father accepts a job in Willow Run, and the whole family - except Grandfather - moves away. In Willow Run, the tiny homes are dirty and dark and the factory work is hard on both of her parents. On top of it all, Meggie misses her brother Eddie, who is overseas fighting.
Slowly Meggie makes a place for herself in Willow Run. She meets two friends, Harlan and Patches. They engage in many interesting adventures - including stealing ice cream from the ice cream truck (I am sure that Ms. Giff does not endorse this idea).

But one day, Eddie goes missing overseas. Her family mourns and also prays for him to be found safely.

During her stay in Willow Run, Meggie slowly begins to grow up and learn to keep her hope up for her family and most of all, her missing brother.

 

Comments: I really enjoyed this book. It pairs with Lily's Crossing quite nicely, yet it is a great stand-alone novel too. Readers do not need to know one book to enjoy the other in this case. I enjoyed this book even more than Lily's Crossing, I think, though the Rockaway landscape was a nice background in the Lily book.

Ms. Giff really does it again with this great work of historic fiction. Reading work by this author is always a treat, because I can always count on the story to be good - even if not each story is my favorite - the story is still always a worthwhile read.

Meggie is a likeable character, and I can just imagine her in this real situation in real life. Often times, Ms. Giff's books really have that power.

I recommend this book for 8+, or any children who know about WWII already and would not be confused by the reasons for Meggie moving or for Sam's missing notice.

I almost want a sequel (though this book was written a decade ago). I want more of Meggie Dillon's life!

 

Rating: 5 stars

Lily's Crossing

Title: Lily's Crossing

 

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

 

Summary: Lily Mollahan, age 11, is excited to be staying in Rockaway vacation house for the summer of 1944. But things turn upside down as soon as she gets there. Her best friend, Margaret Dillon has to move because of the war, Lily's father joins up to fight in the war, and a refugee boy, her age, Albert, comes from Hungary to stay with neighbors.

Lily settles into life in Rockaway - though things are not easy living with her Gram. She slowly befriends Albert, but their friendship is challenged when Lily's notorious lying ways cause both children to possibly get hurt.

Comments: I love Patricia Reilly Giff so much. R My Name is Rachel is definitely on my list of all-time favorite historical fictions from the Depression Era.
This book was good too, but not my absolute favorite. Lily is a character with a lot of flaws and a lot of good intentions as well. She lies and makes up grand stories about aunts spying in Germany, her father being in the Secret Service, etc. However, Lily is also a kind girl and she doesn't lie to hurt people (Not that it makes the lies right, but it may make a slight difference). In the end, she does learn her lesson, and slowly grows up a bit.
I do wish that Gram and Lily would've grown a bit more in their relationship. Gram was never very unkind to Lily; Gram was just a bit sensible and stern, which flighty Lily did not like. However, in the end, Lily began to see past their differences and began to realize her love for Gram a bit more. I would've liked more of a relationship growth though.
I really like that this book partners with Willow Run, another book by Ms. Giff.
The book seems suitable for 8+, but would probably be most enjoyed by children who understand WWII and why Albert and his sister were refugees, etc.
The ending chapter where it skips to the next summer. Oh it was so well-written. Not too deep, but not light and anti-climatic either. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I must admit that it nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Rating: 5 stars

Turtle in Paradise

Title: Turtle in Paradise

 

Author: Jennifer L. Holm

 

Summary: In 1935, 11 year old Turtle has been sent to live in Key West with her cousins and aunt and uncle. She has never met them before - she has never even been to the town before, but once she gets there, things start out rough. Her cousins and their friends - all boys - do not take very kindly to her at first, but after a few days, tension eases and they slowly begin to accept her into their babysitting club. Turtle is beginning to make a new life for herself - she meets her grandmother for the first time, and is the only one who can seem to reach her, and she begins to feel at home. But then, Turtle discovers a treasure map and ventures away with the boys to find the treasure, just as Turtle's mother and suspicious boyfriend Archie show up in town.

 

Comments: I tried to read this book several years ago and I could not make it through the first 3 chapters. I decided that I had not given it a fair chance, and with a clearer understanding of the time that it was set in, I decided to pick it up once more. I am so glad that I did! The story is great and Turtle has something special to offer. Turtle is spunky and a hardcore girl. But the theme in the book is that "turtles may have a hard shell, but they have a soft underside." This is rather true in Turtle's case.

I would recommend this book to anyone 8+, but I read it around age 9 or 10 and could not really get into the story, so perhaps 10+ would be best. Really there isn't anything so "iffy" in the book, so the age doesn't matter.

I am so glad I gave this wonderful book a second chance!

 

Rating: 5 stars 

Cold War on Maplewood Street

Title: Cold War on Maplewood Street

 

Author: Gayle Rosengren

 

Summary: Joanna is growing up in 1962, and she feels that a lot of things are not fair for her. Her brother Sam joined up with the military and is now out on a ship somewhere far away -  a ship heading to Cuba. Joanna fears for her cherished, only brother's safety, and feels guilty about not writing him as part of a "promise" that she made in the heat of anger when Sam left.

As well as her fears for her older brother's safety, Joanna also begins to worry about smaller things, like her strange neighbor, staying home alone, the boy-girl party coming up on Saturday night at the popular girl's house, and other middle school worries. As her world seems to turn upside down during the Cuban missile crisis, Joanna must stay strong, for her mother, and most of all, her brother Sam.

 

Comments: I really enjoyed this book. It is based off of the author, Ms. Rosengren's personal childhood experiences, which I find to be quite interesting.

Joanna is realistic and relatable on many levels - she is a character that can be put into any time period and still work. Her worries and insecurities are all very typical for a girl of her age, and that is part of what makes her likeable.  

The story is short and powerful, yet not the sort of powerful that makes the reader cry or anything. The book carries just the right amount of power for a reader, and I think that the book could be suitable for 8+, but most likely best understood by those 10+.

Joanna and Sam's relationship is very sweet, even if it does have its ups-and-downs, and I always enjoy seeing positive sibling relationships in literature.

 

Rating: 5 stars

 

The Girl in the Torch

Title: The Girl in the Torch

 

Author: Robert Sharenow

 

Summary: In the early 1900s, 12 year old Sarah and her mother immigrate to Ellis Island after the death of Sarah's father. On the trip to Ellis Island, Sarah's mother gets sick and then dies soon after. Sarah is set to be sent back to her home country, but jumps off the boat and swims to the Statue of Liberty Island.

She hides from everyone for a while, but is eventually found and is taken in by an island guard, Maryk. She finds her place, working for a nice Chinese woman who runs a boarding house. But when the boarding house owner and occupants are all arrested over suspicion of running a slave ring, and Sarah is left alone. When it is said that she must return to her country, Sarah and the friends that she has made help her find out how to stay in America.

 

Comments: This book is just so wonderful that I could hardly even sum it all up in the small summary I gave above. Sarah is just a character that is easily loveable - her determination to make a life for herself in America and her bravery. She grew so much throughout the book.

All the characters were well rounded and developed.

The history was my favorite part, I enjoy stories about Ellis Island and immigration - mostly because well-written books about those subjects are few and far between, it seems.

In the author's note, Mr. Sharenow writes that he did change a few things in history - he took an artistic license of sorts. I appreciate that he told the readers that, I feel like not every author would have been able to say that they did that.

The ending where the book skipped to years later...Oh that was just so great!

This book is in the running for one of my favorite books in 2016, I think.

 

Rating: 5 stars!

Yankee Girl

Title: Yankee Girl

 

Author: Mary Ann Rodman

 

Summary: In 1964, Alice Ann Moxley and her parents have moved to Jackson, Mississippi from Chicago, because of her father's FBI-agent job. Alice is called "Yankee Girl" and the group of girls in her grade are not exactly welcoming. Her only sort-of-friend is her next door neighbor who is also a boy and does not want to really be seen hanging out with a girl.
Alice is surprised to see that a negro girl, Valerie Taylor - whose father is the Reverend Taylor, is going to go to her school and be in her class. Her parents tell her to be nice to Valerie, but Alice is swept up in the other girls in her class, who do not like Valerie and are against integration; like most of those that Alice knows in the south.

But then something tragic happens to Valerie and at the last minute, Alice longs to set things right.

 

Comments: I had been wanting to read this book for such a long time, and I am so happy that I finally got to read it. My all time favorite book based in this era in history is The Lions of Little Rock. So of course, I had very high standards while reading this book. All of that aside, I really did enjoy reading it. Alice seemed realistic, and unfortunately the mean girls in her class were realistic too.

I felt bad that Alice did not stand up for Valerie, even when Alice knew deep inside that it was the right thing to do. I suppose this made the book more realistic, and then at the end, at the new school when she met Valerie's cousin, she was granted a new chance to do the right thing.

The one piece of information that sealed the deal was reading the author's note and hearing that this book was based off of the author's life. I love books like that - and hearing that put the whole book in a new light.

There are some rather tragic events in this book, yet I think that a mature 10 year old would be okay reading it - maybe 12+ because then the book would be better understood.

 

Rating: 5 stars 

Hold Fast

Title: Hold Fast

 

Author: Blue Balliett

 

Summary: Early and her family (Sum & Dash her parents, and her little brother Jubie) live in a small apartment, and while they are not rich in money, they are all very rich in love. The whole family enjoys quotes and words and reading, especially her father who even works at a library.
Then one day, Dash goes missing and is suspected of committing a crime.
With a link of their family missing, Early, Sum, and Jubie fall into even harder times. Overnight they lose their home and are thrust into the shelter system. Each of them struggles to survive, each wondering whether Dash will ever be found.

Comments: I enjoyed this book. I must admit that the cover and title did not quite appeal to me, but that does not matter - it is the content beneath that cover and title, and this content was quality for sure. The book did not peak my interest in the first few chapters, but at least 5 or 6 chapters in, I began to really enjoy the reading. I find some of the best books can end up like that.
Early was likeable, as was her little brother, and Early was truly remarkable in the way that she wanted to solve the mystery - to find Dash. The way she took matters into her own hands.
The mystery aspect of the story was great too - it was not so predictable. There were some scary parts, so I would recommend this for children 10+.

Rating: 5 stars  

The Great Good Summer

Title: The Great Good Summer

 

Author: Liz Garton Scanlon

 

Summary: It is summer vacation, and Ivy is home with her dad, worrying about her mother who has run away with a preacher, Hallelujah Dave, to the Florida Panhandle for the summer, to "grow more religious" but after not hearing from her for weeks, Ivy begins to wonder why she really left.

As Iris goes through her boring summer days, consisting of babysitting for a neighbor and going to the park to watch Paul Dobbs, a classmate, fly his model aircrafts.

But then the summer takes a turn for the better and less-boring. Ivy and Paul get together and begin hatching a plan to go and find Ivy's mother and to visit a space launch before the whole launching idea is put away for good. Together they escape to the Florida Panhandle and go on a wild adventure to find a missing mother and to fulfill a dream of seeing a spacecraft.

 

Comments: I liked this book a lot. I liked how the author was able to get across that Hallelujah Dave was a scam, without making it seem like all preachers are like that. I also like how Ivy was her own person and was not afraid to take an adventure, and I also liked Paul because he was not the totally stereotypical boy classmate. Another thing I liked was that Ivy and Paul never really got "romantic" with each other in that way - they were able to have a boy-and-girl friendship without any of that "love" stuff. :P That seems few and far between in a lot of books nowadays, so I was pleased.

The book would be great for 8+ probably, because other than the mother running away with the preacher (nothing inappropriate occurs, and Ivy's mother does indeed have every intention of coming home again), there is not really any "iffy" content to be had.

 

Rating: 5 stars

The Forget-Me-Not Summer

Title: The Forget-Me-Not Summer

 

Author: Leila Howland

 

Summary: 3 sisters, 12 year old Marigold, 11 year old Zinnia and Lily, age 5, are growing up in California, and living a very rich life. Marigold is a natural actress and a natural beauty too. She is noticed everywhere she goes - not only for her beauty, but also because she co-stars on a popular television show.

Zinnie is the middle sister with the kinky brown hair, stuck in her sister's shadow. She isn't a natural actress like Marigold and she doesn't really believe that she is good at much of anything. 

Zinnie and Marigold are not so very close - they are sisters and rivals after all. But when the girls are forced to spend the summer with their Aunt Sunny in a small beach town in Cape Cod, they slowly come together. Together the girls organize a talent show and the summer is full of surprises and lots of new excitement as the sisters go on their own journeys, leading them closer together.

 

Comments: I really enjoyed this book! Each sister is portrayed vividly, and even though each girl has her moments, they are all likeable. The beautiful shore and small town of Cape Cod were described so well that I felt like I was really there - no details were left out of any scene - it was like watching a movie as I read; I could envision everything clear as day.

The book is suitable for 8 or 10+. There are many lessons to be learned about a variety of subjects; first crushes, sister relationships, and learning to have a good time. There is a sister to appeal to every reader! While the book characters are slightly stereotyped (the pretty older actress sister, the overshadowed middle child, the angelic little sister), that doesn't make them less likeable in my opinion. Those stereotypes actually worked in this book.

Oh, and for fans of this amazing novel - a sequel to it is being published this year! Now that is something to look forward to!

 

Rating: 5 stars   

Sure Signs of Crazy

Title: Sure Sings of Crazy

 

Author: Karen Harrington

 

Summary: 12-year-old Sarah Nelson is a one-of-a-kind girl living with her father who struggles with alcohol related problems. As her summer project, she writes letters to her hero and ideal father, Atticus Finch, writes the definitions to unfamiliar words in her diary, and her closest friend is a plant.

But Sarah and her father are two people with a secret; Sarah's mother, is in a mental asylum/prison and has been since Sarah was only about 2. The case with Sarah's mother is so famous, that they are continuously moving once people find out who they are.

But this summer is different for Sarah. As she is growing up more and more, and beginning to get her first crush and maybe even friend-who-is-a-boy, Sarah longs for her mother more and more, and is saddened that she has no relationship with her. Sarah decides she wants to meet her. Sarah navigates towards her goal and tries to find answers, but with so much working against her, Sarah wonders if things will ever be the way she wishes they were.

 

Comments: This was a pretty good book. Sarah is likeable, though I feel she was in a hurry to grow up when in reality, she is only 12 - not even a teen yet.

Other than that, Sarah's story is heartfelt and is very realistic. From Sarah having to navigate the challenges of growing up, to having to wonder and wonder about her mother, who drowned her brother and attempted to drown her when Sarah was only years old.

I found it a little strange that Sarah was trying to pursue a relationship with a boy who was already much older than her.

But, I did like that her role model and her fictional hero is Atticus Finch. I am such a big fan of To Kill a Mockingbird and I am currently reading Go Set a Watchman, so I know how she feels about being close to a character from those wonderful classics. I enjoyed reading her letters and what she chose to write, and I feel like Sarah could've really been a real girl.

I would recommend this book to 11 or 12+, just because of the mental health themes, and some "girl" themes too.

 

Rating: 4 stars

The Question of Miracles

Title: The Question of Miracles

 

Author: Elana K. Arnold

 

Summary: 6th Grader Iris has just moved to Oregon, and positively hates it. There is always rain, she doesn't like her new school very much, but most of all, her best friend Sarah is not there with her. Sarah will never be with her; Sarah is dead.

As Iris continues to grieve the loss of her best friend, she slowly becomes friends with Boris, a rather socially awkward boy from her school. When Iris finds out that Boris is alive because of a miracle, she begins to wonder why her friend Sarah was not granted a miracle to help her live. Together, Boris and Iris search for answers.  

Iris slowly begins to settle in to her life in Oregon and learns to accept all that has happened.

 

Comments: This book was alright. Miracles are a touchy writing subject to begin with, because of all of the worldviews and different beliefs. I think that Ms. Arnold was able to write about this subject without showing way too much bias to one belief over the other.

Not too much happened in the book. I would've liked for there to be a little more excitement - maybe some more answers. Also, I would've liked for Boris to do even more than he did.

The book was good enough, and I would say that it should be appropriate for 10+, considering that there is some minor talk of death and health issues and stuff like that.

 

Rating: 4 stars