Pictures of Hollis Woods

Title: Pictures of Hollis Woods

 

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

 

Summary: 12-year-old Hollis Woods is a troubled orphan who is staying with Josie, a nice woman, after Hollis ran away from a foster family that loved her so much that they planned to adopt her. Hollis is tough and she finds a good home with Josie, who is an artist. But as Josie's memory fails, Hollis is expected to be sent away to another foster family, because Josie is deemed unfit to care for Hollis anymore. So Hollis and Josie run off. But at their destination, they run into the people that Hollis may just need the most.

 

Comments: Ms. Giff is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, and this book, though more on the modern side, gave off such a classic air. It was short, as most of her books tend to be, yet it was just enough to get to know Hollis and travel alongside her on her unique journey. One for the Murphys remains my favorite "foster care" book, but this book comes in as a pretty close second.

It wrapped up a bit too nicely in the end, which I couldn't help but be a bit disappointed that it ended so perfectly. However, Hollis had a hard life, so I have no doubt that she really needed this happy ending and I am glad that she received it in the end.

I would recommend it for 8/10+ because nothing inappropriate really happens and there are some good role models in this book.

 

Rating: 5 stars

Kepler's Dream

Title: Kepler's Dream

 

Author: Juliet Bell

 

Summary: 11-year-old Ella is spending the summer with her eccentric grandmother, whom she does not remember ever meeting, while Ella's mother undergoes serious treatment for her cancer. Ella is not looking forward to the summer; her grandmother is very strict, and the one person there Ella's age, does not even seem to be nice.

But her grandmother's favorite, most special book, goes missing, Kepler's Dream of the Moon, and Ella is determined to find it. Ella and the farmhand's daughter, Rosie, try to uncover just where the precious book is.

 

Comments: I enjoyed this book. The cover really drew me into the pages and the interesting, picturesque setting. I love the setting - it created the book and made it that much better for me. Ella is likeable, I suppose. I found her to be a little bratty about not having "wifi" and not being able to play on her phone or watch television. I could not relate, as I would love to spend just a day in a spot as interesting as where Ella spent her summer. However, her mother was undergoing a serious treatment and Ella's bratty behavior most likely came about from all the stress and worry she had built up inside of her.

The mystery was a good mystery, and well developed. I sort of guessed the result in the end, but that didn't really make a difference - the book was still good.

There wasn't really so much "iffy" content here, so I would probably rate this about a 10+.

 

Rating: 5 stars

Almost Home

Title: Almost Home

 

Author: Nora Raleigh Baskin

 

Summary: Leah Baer is a troubled young middle schooler. She has been moved around from household to household and parent to parent after her parents' divorce. At school, she meets a nice boy, and the two become friends. He encourages her to get involved with theater. Slowly, Leah makes her way through her problems.

Comments: I liked this book. Ruby on the Outside, one of Nora Raleigh Baskin's more recent works cannot be topped by any of her other books in my opinion, but her other available titles are still worth reading. (Though I suggest saving the best, Ruby on the Outside, for last :P)
This book is quick and short and there is one inappropriate word/scene in the book, so I would recommend the book for 10-12+.
There is not much for me to say about this book. It did not spark my interest or excitement as much as I had hoped that it would, and it did not leave me speechless and spellbound afterwards as some of my favorite books do. However, I do recommend it, because the book is by no means "bad" or "uninteresting", it just didn't spark my interest.

Rating 3 stars

What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows

Title: What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows

 

Author: Nora Raleigh Baskin

Summary: 12-year-old Gabby Weiss is just like any other middle school girl beginning to grow up. Gabby doesn't want to do that growing up without a mother, and she thinks that her father's girlfriend Cleo would make the perfect mother. Cleo thinks so too.
But then, one day, Cleo and her father break up. Gabby feels terribly alone, and feels as though Cleo, her once soon-to-be-stepmother has abandoned her. In her desperate search for a mother, Gabby goes about uncovering the mystery surrounding her real mother's death that is rarely talked about.

Comments: This book was okay. It was certainly a teen/tween book and probably most enjoyable and appropriate for a range between 10-13 years old.
Gabby is a good main character, but I didn't find her to be overly different or exciting. Her story was sad, and she was going through a lot of changes, and I would've liked her to just be a bit more vibrant.
 The mystery around her mother's death was interesting, but could be tragic or sad for young, less mature readers.
Overall, the book was, in my opinion, no where near as enjoyable as Ms. Baskin's Ruby on the Outside. However, for fans of that book, this book is similar in a very small sense, so I think that it is still worth reading. I definitely like Ms. Baskin's writing skills, but this book just doesn't have as much appeal as some of her other works.

Rating: 4 stars

A Year Without Autumn

Title: A Year Without Autumn

 

Author: Liz Kessler

 

Summary: Jenni Green and her best friend Autumn are on their annual vacation with their families. They are so excited to go swimming, horse riding, museum touring, and maybe a daring adventure or two. But one day, Jenni decides to use an abandoned elevator in the vacation building and she steps off the elevator to find herself a year forward in her life. As if it isn't scary enough to jump a year forward, Jenni sees the haunting events that will happen throughout the year. Jenni realizes that she must change the past to save the future.

 

Comments: This book was certainly captivating - it was a page turner. Sure, it was maybe a little predictable and it only took me about an hour and a half to read, but the book had the power to keep me reading from the beginning to the end in all one sitting.

The tragedies that happen over the course of the future that Jenni sees are rather drastic and tragic too. (Brother tragically injured, divorce, new sibling. etc. - I don't want to spoil the book) This book is a book that I could probably recommend for 8+, though the tragic health injuries can be scary at points for young readers.

 

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

Camp of the Angel

Title: Camp of the Angel

 

Author: Aileen Arrington

 

Summary: 11 year old Jordan and her younger brother, Carson live with their Papa who enjoys drinking but is oftentimes quite abusive in a mental and physical way. Jordan tries desperately to hide the abuse from those around her at school and on the island, even though it is obvious that everyone around her is wondering. But when Jordan suspects her Papa of something very serious, will she have the courage to tell the authorities?

 

Comments: I enjoyed this book. While I could not directly relate to it, which I am grateful for, I still enjoyed reading it and Jordie and her brother are both likeable as are her Uncle Bob and Aunt Viv. The characters were not overly detailed but they were detailed enough to get the point of the book across and still make for a good story. Her Papa is the type that is very unlikeable, but at rare moments he shows a bit of kindness, which makes him more complex; thus making the book better.

This book is not overly descriptive of the abuse, and 8+ would probably be an okay age, but maybe 10+ depending on maturity. The book is a quick read and I finished it in 45 minutes.

The storyline with the white cat is a little weak and thrown-in and I think that storyline in general did not have enough time to go through the action and climax due to the shortness in length of this book.

While it is probably not going to make it on to my list of favorites, it was still worth reading.

 

Rating: 4 stars   

Moonpenny Island

Title: Moonpenny Island

 

Author: Tricia Springstubb

 

Summary: It's the start of 6th grade and things aren't going very well. Flor's best and only friend Sylvie has gone away to a fancy academy on the main land - off the tiny island that Sylvie and Flor have known forever. To make matters worse, Flor's parents are fighting more and more often and something strange is going on with her older sister Cecilia. When it seems like things are getting too much to bear, Flor meets a girl, Jasper, who is visiting the island with her scientist father to search for trilobites and other fossils. Jasper is very factual and a somewhat hard person; she is difficult to get to know. Jasper is more complex than what meets the eye, and slowly, the two girls become closer as situations on the island begin to slowly get solved.

 

Comments: This book was pretty good. The island reminded me of Rock Hall, MD, a place where I greatly enjoy spending my summers. It was a small island town and I could relate to it in a way. I liked the conflict in the book and I can't really complain about the story. It was pretty unique, I suppose. I just felt that the amazing setting deserved to have an exciting summertime mystery or something - rather than a school story about a dwindling friendship. I would've enjoyed learning more about the island, so maybe Ms. Springstubb will consider making this into a series of sorts - I'd love to see Jasper come back to the island while Sylvie is there. I wanted so badly to see one last face-to-face interaction with Sylvie before the book ended. While there was closure, I didn't feel like there was enough of it, but perhaps that will leave an opening for more books from Moonpenny Island.

Overall, it seems pretty appropriate for anyone ages 8+. Cecilia the older sister is suspected of doing something wrong and there are a few words in there that really could've been left out ("sexy" for example).

I would love to see a series called "Tales of Moonpenny" or something similar!

 

Rating: 5 stars

 

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

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

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

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!