Listening for Lions

Title: Listening for Lions

 

Author: Gloria Whelan

 

Summary: Young teen, Rachel Sheridan lives in Africa with her missionary parents, both doctors, who operate a hospital set up for the people in a poor area. When influenza breaks out, Rachel's parents die and she is put into the care of a scheming, evil couple. Forced to use a fake identity and be the subject of their biggest scheme, Rachel must go to England.

But Rachel is strong, and has a mind of her own, and with a lot of luck, she finds a new place that she can comfortably call home. 

 

Comments: I liked this book a lot. Rachel is likeable, and all of the antagonists are perfectly unlikeable. I feel like Rachel's parents died too suddenly, and that the book moved along a bit quick for my taste (I prefer long, drawn-out stories), but overall it was a good story and all of the information that was necessary was contained between the covers.

It was interesting to see Rachel go from this young 14 year old to this young lady really coming into her own and making Africa and the world a better place. I thought it was special to watch her grow up, even if not an excess amount of information was provided. 

I would say that the book is probably best for 12+, just because of the scheming, the death, etc. Also, Rachel really grows up in the book and is already a teen when the book starts, so it is most relatable for the 12+ age range, I think.

 

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  

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)

Rules!

Title: Rules

Author: Cynthia Lord

Summary: Twelve year old Catherine wants a normal life and a normal brother - one that doesn't have autism. She feels upset that her whole family revolves around him. She tries to teach her brother David to behave better by giving him rules. But during the summer, Catherine meets Jason, a nice boy in a wheel chair, and Catherine's take on disabilities slowly begins to change. Also, she has met a new next door possible best friend, but she isn't sure about this girl, and is surprised with her own behavior. What is normal?

Rating: Five stars. This book is really good and I recommend it. It is a story about a girl learning to except her brother's autism and she is finding that there really isn't any normal. Everyone is just themselves.