Tru & Nelle

Title: Tru & Nelle

 

Author: G. Neri

 

Summary: 6-year-old Nelle and 7-year-old Truman are living next to each other in Monroeville, Alabama. Nelle lives with her 2 older sisters, her father, and she also has a mother, who has some mental problems and is away getting treatment. Truman is living with his aunts and uncle, along with occasional, infrequent visits from his real, unreliable parents.

The two enjoy playing together, along with Big Boy (Jennings Carter, I think), and the two, who enjoy writing and telling stories and solving mysteries, create their own detective agency, with Truman acting as Sherlock Holmes, Nelle as Dr. Watson, and Big Boy as the Inspector.

With the case of a drugstore break-in, the three get on the case and go out on an adventure they will never forget.

 

Comments: I really, really enjoyed this book! Nelle Harper Lee is my favorite author (I have read both of her books) and it was interesting to learn about Truman Capote, though I have not read any of his literature works yet. Now I want to, though! :)

The story felt very real, and I really did feel as though I was taken into their lives, even if some of the scenarios in the book and some of the storylines were fictional. It was very similar to Scout, Jem, and Dill, when the three main characters (Big Boy, Nelle, and Truman) got together in the book, which is what I really hoped for.

I think that the book could probably be suitable for all readers, and even for younger children who have not yet read the writings of these two authors, the book would be interesting and a clean, fun, small-town mystery. There are a few scenes with the KKK, which could be scary or inappropriate for very young readers, so maybe 8+ could be suitable too. In the scenes with the Klan, no one gets physically hurt, and nothing really happens, and it should not change anyone's opinion on the book either.

It was a wonderful story and I enjoyed reading it very, very much. 

 

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 

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
 

 

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!

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  

Strawberry Hill

Title: Strawberry Hill

 

Author: Mary Ann Hoberman

 

Summary: 10 year old Allie isn't very excited about moving to a new place - until she learns that the place is named "Strawberry Hill." She immediately becomes excited as she imagines moving to a magical strawberry field. However, she is disappointed when it turns out to be a boring street with no strawberries (or so she thinks at first). She meets two girls, Martha and Mimi, who live very close by. She likes both girls, but is more drawn to Martha at the beginning because Martha is more "normal" and not as "weird." However, at the end, she finds out that maybe she doesn't want to be friends with Martha. This book takes the reader through a year in the life of Allie in her new home on Strawberry Hill.

Comments: I liked this book. It confused me a bit on what age group it was supposed to be for. It was long and talked about some older things at times (religious prejudices), yet it talked about girls in much younger grades, so the age range for this book was hard to figure out. Allie was nice, and likeable for the most part, though she was easily swayed by her friend Martha, and also constantly challenged her friend over who her "best friend" was. I found that Allie could be a bit mean at parts, and then at other times was just unbelievably nice - which is definitely realistic.

 

Complaints: None. But I don't know if the religious stuff had to be in there; that could be a turn off for some younger children.

 

Rating; 5 stars!

 

 

Every Day After

Title: Every Day After

Author: Laura Golden

Summary; Elizabeth "Lizzie" Hawkins is living with her mother in the Depression. Her father left home a few months ago and Lizzie is trying to fend for herself while taking care of her mother who has gone into such a depressed state upon the leaving of Lizzie's father, that she no longer speaks and can barely take care of herself without the help of her daughter.

On top of all of this, Lizzie is dealing with constant bullying from the new school bully, Erin Sawyer who also seems to be "stealing" here friend Ben who is nice to everybody.

Lizzie is determined to win and make Erin lose and to keep the fact that her mother is nearly non-functional a secret.

However, when the secret about her mother gets out, Lizzie knows it is up to her to figure out a plan to keep them together and to keep Erin from getting what she wants.

Comments: On the first few pages of the book, I wasn't completely sold, but when I really read further, I couldn't believe that it took me this long to find the book! It was amazing. Lizzie was so real and so was Ben and Erin was a little over-the-top, but then we all find out, in the end, why she is like that. Everything is so real, from the people to the struggles and challenges they go through. Lizzie is so likeable and it is so easy to hate Erin that you can really find yourself cheering on Lizzie and hoping and turning the next page to see if Erin gets taken down. It was such a fun read and I'm glad that I found it. This book has no inappropriate content and can be enjoyed by many ages of readers*!

Complaints: None! The way everything shaped together at the end was beautiful.

Rating: 5 stars!

*While I have rated this suitable for all readers of all ages, I believe that due to some more "mature" themes, it would probably be best enjoyed by those around 10.
 

The Mighty Miss Malone

Title: The Mighty Miss Malone

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis

Summary: Deza Malone is growing up in the 30s, right in the Depression. She is having a great life, with her brother Jimmy, her mother, and her father who she absolutely adores. She loves her teacher and her friend Clarice, and enjoys writing greatly.

One day, after her father is lost in a boating accident, things take a turn for the worst. Shortly after, he is found, alive, but things aren't the same. He is beaten down badly and the finances and money for the house is failing. He leaves to go find work, against the family's wishes, and Deza and her brother and mother are left alone to fend for themselves. They are eventually evicted and forced to travel around with no permanent home. Then, Jimmy is recognized for his amazing singing voice and is whisked off, leaving just Deza and her mother.

Things are turned upside down for about two years (the book covers these years) of Deza's life until finally, things seem like they may be able to get back to normal.

Comments: I liked this book. Deza is a great girl with a knack for writing essays for school and for figuring things out. She is very, very smart and I couldn't help but love her and her family. The book was sad continuously as any book about such a sad thing could be. There were a few graphic sequences describing the boating accident with her father, and a few horrors of what Deza is going through.

It isn't enough to scare anyone away from the book though, and honestly, with some of the crazy gruesome books out there (Hunger Games, etc.), this is really nothing when it comes to scary. It is a bit sad, but still an amazing book and I'd recommend it for 10+.

While the book was sad, it wouldn't have been as amazing or worked out any other way.

Complaints: None!
Rating: 5 stars

Family Tree Book #1: Better to Wish

Series: Family Tree

Title: Better to Wish Book #1

Author: Ann M. Martin

Summary: In the 1930s/1940s, Abby is growing up in Barnegat Point, a small town on the coast. She has a younger sister (and soon another younger sister and a brother). Her mother is very soft spoken and her father, her Pops, runs the show. The book is done in diary entries on a particular date (down to the day of the week and everything). There are about 2 diary entries per year of Abby's childhood starting from 7 years old and going up to her graduation day in high school.

Her Pops behavior is very rough. He doesn't like certain races or religions and even forbids Abby from seeing one of her friends (a boy he doesn't approve of). Her Pop is into his public image and is cruel at times. He even sends his five year old son (who has a few developmental disabilities) away to a "special school" without telling anyone - not even Abby's mother.

Her mother is very depressed because of the loss of her two children (they died before the book started) and she keeps rose bushes in memory of them. Eventually, her mother does end up dying and her father remarries to Abby's school nurse. The step-mother turns out to be terrible, and the book sort of wraps itself up from there.

 

Comments: Overall, the book was really good. Abby has seen it all at such a young age - siblings, moving, cruelty and abuse, prejudice, and even death (of her mother and friend and the two siblings that died before the book started). Abby and even her sister are so unique that I connected with them and they really did come alive for me, I felt like I knew them. This book is great, however, it is pretty deep and covers harsh topics throughout the book, so I wouldn't recommend it for children under 10. The death of her friend, for me, was very tragic. It's still a great book though, it can just be a bit scary or harsh for younger children at times.

Complaints: While the book may have been harsh at times, I wouldn't have had it any other way. The harshness wasn't too much for a child to handle, and it was just kind of eye opening. I loved it, so therefore, I have no complaints.

Rating: 5 stars

Moon Over Manifest

Title: Moon over Manifest Author: Clare Vanderpool Summary: It is the hit of the Great Depression and Abilene Tucker is sent to live with a man named Shady in a town called Manifest, a place with a rich past and a bright future. Her father lived here as a child many years ago, and Abilene is excited since she heard many stories about this place. She is a bit disappointed to see that it is only some buildings and a school house. Later, she meets up with two girls Lettie and Ruthann. They search for the "Rattler after finding notes. Abilene stumbles upon old Miss Sadie the diviner who remembered the sad history of the town even when no one else could bear to remember. Abilene learns new things about her father and she is even learning clues to a mystery. What is the mystery and how will it be solved? Rating: Five Stars! This book is really good. It is long so you can read it for a good three days. It is a page turner and really good. It is scary, sad, and tragic, yet happy.  What do you think? We'd love to hear your comments!