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

With a Name Like Love

Title: With a Name Like Love

 

Author: Tess Hilmo

 

Summary: 13 year old Olivene "Ollie" Love, daughter of the Reverend Everlasting Love, travels by trailer around the country in 1957 with her mother, father, and her 4 younger sisters preaching to towns. Ollie is tired of moving on from each town, homeschooling with her sisters and not living in an actual house, but she doesn't think anything of the town, Binder that they stop in for a few days. But during a quick trip to the general store, she meets a boy, Jimmy Koppel who has a lot more mystery to him than any outsider would think. His father was murdered and his mother was wrongfully jailed for it.

Ollie and Jimmy become close and Ollie does everything she can to try and uncover who really murdered Jimmy's abusive father.

 

Comments: I loved this book. I believe I especially liked it because I was so easily able to relate to Ollie. I too am the oldest of my sisters, I am homeschooled, my family has quite similar Christian values, and I am 13 years of age as well.

The characters in this book are all likeable and I really enjoyed the writing. I felt that there was a slight romance between Ollie and Jimmy, but it wasn't overplayed and it was all very subtle and left for the reader to interpret in their own way. The mystery in this book made for a great storyline, and the mystery didn't take up the whole story.

I do feel like the book kind of justified the murder of Jimmy's father because of the abusive person he was. Some could disagree with this; however it was not outright said; it could just be interpreted this way.

Ollie is a good example; she wanted to get what she desired, yet not if it meant the others around her not being happy. She was also a good role model for older sisters everywhere.

The book is not predictable (or it wasn't for me anyway, and I read mysteries regularly).

I'd recommend this book for 10+ because the descriptions of Jimmy's father's abusive ways could be disturbing to young children.  

 

Complaints: None.

 

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
 

 

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

The Reinvention of Moxie Roosevelt

Title: The Reinvention of Moxie Roosevelt

 

Author: Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

 

Summary: 13 year old Moxie Roosevelt Kipper doesn't want to be ordinary and unnoticed anymore, and she finds that the perfect time to change herself is at the beginning of her new life at a boarding school. Things go okay at first, as Moxie tries out different personalities, with none of them truly being her. But things get complicated as she tries to act different towards different people and at different times. She even has to keep a notebook about what she says around different people because she is lying about herself so much. However, she soon learns she isn't the only pretending to be something she isn't.

 

Comments: I really liked this book. While it could give some kids "ideas" about how to balance different personalities, I think that it would be a good book that could even teach a lesson to girls who feel ordinary and want to be something they're not. Moxie learns a lesson about being herself that everyone who has ever pretended to be something she is not could benefit from. Moxie meets a lot of friends, and her roommate, Spinky seemed like a "tough bad girl" but she ended up being really nice and not into conflict at all. So, this book went against several stereotypes, which is always a plus!

 

Complaints: I found it surprising that her roommate, Spinky, had a tattoo. Some families may not find this appropriate and frankly, I was beyond surprised she had a tattoo, considering it is illegal and wrong to tattoo a 13 year old girl. Maybe they were temporary tattoos that Spinky just pretended were real? I have no idea. XD

 

Rating: 5 stars! Great book!   

Close to Famous

Title: Close to Famous

Author: Joan Bauer

Summary: Foster McFee and her mom start out on the run from her mom's ex-boyfriend who weirdly enough, believes he is Elvis. They come across a town in West Virginia and are taken in by a kind couple. Foster and her love for baking attract attention quickly and she soon sells her treats at a local restaurant. She meets a few friends, too, a boy who wants to be a documentary creator, and even a famous movie star who ends up helping her in a way Foster has never let anyone help her.
 

Comments: The book is great and rather than actually focusing on a huge problem and having the story revolve around it, you get to know Foster and her situation and at the end, all the problems that may have arose in the story are pretty much solved. This book is completely okay for everyone to read (unless you are scared by the mentioning of jails and bad guys). It's great and Foster is a really good and sometimes funny person.
Complaints: Couldn't it have been longer? Maybe there could be another book about her? I love Foster!!!!
Rating: 5 stars all the way!!!! 

Flower Feud!

Title: Petal Pushers Book #2: Flower Feud
Author: Catherine R. Daly
Summary: A rival florist opens up a shop in town and buisness is going down! This new shop is so cool and modern, while Del and her family's shop has been the same since it opened. Then she finds out that the new flower store is being run by her crush's parents. Del is suddenly torn. What'll happen? This is a flower war!!!!
Rating: You should read the first book first, but after that one, totally read this one if you liked the first. This book rocks!

Too Many Blooms!

Title: Petal Pushers Series Book #1: Too Many Blooms
Author: Catherine R. Daly
Summary: Del and her three sisters are helping their parents run a flower shop that has been in the family for a long time. Then, they find out they are catering to a bride! Everyone is excited, until Del finds out that her enemy will be the junior bridesmaid. Will Del let this get in the way of planning the perfect wedding?
Rating: I finished reading the whole Petal Pushers Series and I loved every moment of it. I really liked this one though. It is really good!

Times Sqaured!

Title: Times Squared
Author: Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy
Summary: The Mills' twins are back in an all new adventure! This time it is in the big city of New York! They will be going on a field trip there with their drama clubs and mathletes. Payton meets up with her enemy Ashlyn the former owner of Payton's "Summer Slave" clothes. Is everything going to turn out wrong because of her? Find out in this all new adventure. 
Rating: This book totally rocks! It is a pretty big deal since it is in New York City. They are totally awesome twins, and the whole series is good, though I will soon be reading the last one! I'll tell you how it is!