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

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!

Chasing the Milky Way

Title: Chasing the Milky Way

 

Author: Erin E. Moulton

 

Summary: 12 year old Lucy Peevey lives in a trailer park with her mother (who suffers from a mental illness similar to Tess's mother's mental illness in the book Rocky Road). Lucy spends her days programming her robot for the robot contest she and her best friend Cam, and younger sister, Izzy dream of going to. They almost have all of the money saved up, and they think that Lucy's mother will be well enough to take them. However, after a serious run-in with the school bully, Lucy and Cam get in trouble and her mother shows up at the school furious. The police are called, but Lucy, Izzy, Cam, and Ms. Peevey escape. They go on a huge adventure, stealing an RV, and outsmarting the authorities many times.

However, Lucy's mother crashes one day and Lucy has to manage the RV by herself and get them to their robot competition where they know that their dreams and their ticket out of the trailer park, await them. Things don't go as planned though, when they wind up getting caught by authorities. Will they try to escape again or will Lucy's mother get the help she needs?

 

Comments: This book was very interesting, and an exciting read. Lucy has a lot of responsibility and is nearly like a mother to her young sister, Izzy. Lucy  knows how to drive despite her young age, because her grandmother (who recently passed) taught her. I found the book unrealistic, but I liked the update they gave at the end of the book; describing how they were doing after they got help.

 

There is some profanities in this book and God's name is said at inappropriate times quite frequently, so this book may not be suitable for those who do not want that language in their books (my family doesn't approve, but I did not know before I read the book). While I was disappointed to see the language in this book, I wouldn't let that stop an older reader from enjoying this book!

 

Complaints: I didn't like the use of profanity in the book.

 

Rating: 4 stars (because of profanity)

Winter Sky

Title: Winter Sky

 

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

 

Summary: 11 year old, Siria, named after a star, lives in an apartment with her father, who is a firefighter. In the night, she secretly sneaks out of her apartment, along with her friend, Douglas, to the fires to make sure that her father is okay. However, she soon finds evidence of fires in different places and suspects that an arsonist is lurking around the city. Then, she finds evidence that it may be her best friend setting the fires. She confronts him and they get into an argument, just as Siria's father is injured. Siria uses her courage and strength to find the person behind the fires, help her injured father, care for an animal, and repair her broken friendship.

 

Comments: I really like Patricia Reilly Giff as an author in general, so I was expecting to like this book. However, it missed the mark a bit. I found it a little unrealistic that Siria could know where all the fires were and that she could really sneak out of her apartment building so flawlessly, without whoever was watching over her (such as Mimi) finding out. The book was very short, like some of her other books, but this one lacked in the usual amount of detail and character development that I had come to find from her writing. 

Siria was very likeable though, and I liked the extra information the book had; describing constellations and stars.

This book is a quick read, and while reading about fires could be scary for some young children, I think this book would be suitable for children ages 8+.

 

Complaints: I feel like the book lacked detail and character development. It was also rather short and it had a slow, yet fast-paced feel to it.

 

Rating: 3 stars    

 

 

The Red Pencil

Title: The Red Pencil

 

Author: Andrea Davis Pinkney

 

Summary: 12 year old Amira is living a peaceful life, with a wonderful father, mother, and adorable younger sister in Sudan. She enjoys drawing pictures in the sand and takes on new responsibilities around the farm as she grows up. However, her whole life changes when a terrorist group called the Janjaweed come and bring tragedy into her life. Family members and loved ones die, and Amira and her mother and sister are forced to flee with others nearby to a special camp for people who have been displaced from their homes. Amira doesn't like the camp and misses life how it was, but she then realizes that the camp and a person in it may be the key to her lifelong dream; to be educated. Things aren't easy, but the book ends hopeful for Amira and her family's future.

 

Comments: I liked this book. It was written in a poem format, which seems to be a trend these days, from what I've observed. It would've been a suitable book for introducing world problems to curious younger children, but I feel that it probably wouldn't be, because there is just too much graphic content in the scene where the Janjaweed come. That scene happened towards the beginning of the book and to be honest, it stuck with me in the back of my mind until the end of the book. I like how it shows that not all people over there who are of a different religion are "bad". It doesn't use stereotypes, which is such a relief. I really liked Amira and I felt that she was very, very brave. She had been through so much and while the book didn't really tell at the end, I hope she ended up with the education she wanted and deserved.

As a side note, I also loved the illustrations. They had a childlike playfulness to them and looked like they could've really been drawn by Amira, which is impressive.

 

Complaints: I wish the scene with the Janjaweed wouldn't have been so graphic. Maybe it wasn't graphic to some people, but I guess I'm a little sensitive when it comes to graphic books. I guess the author just wanted to really get across how terrible the attack was, which is definitely understandable.

 

Rating: 5 stars  

The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond

Title: The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond

 

Author: Brenda Woods

 

Summary: Violet Diamond is a brown haired, brown skinned, and brown eyed girl who lives with a mother and a sister who are both blonde haired and blue eyed, because she is biracial and looks like her father, who died before she was born.

Violet has never met her father's side of the family, but when she hears her grandmother is coming nearby for an art show, Violet urges her mother to let her reach out, despite hard feelings between her grandmother and mother.

Violet meets her grandmother and things aren't great at first, but Violet is glad they met, and they soon form a great bond.

 

Comments: I really liked this book! It was fun to read about Violet, who is just a fun girl who likes to do exciting things and likes to wish. She was hopeful and full of energy, despite her disappointment in never meeting her father's side of the family at first or her father, which I found refreshing.

There are a lot of race questions, so this may be suitable for kids around Violet's age (11). So, I would recommend this book 10+.

Another Day as Emily

Title: Another Day as Emily

Author: Eileen Spinelli

Summary: Suzy is an 11 year old girl whose brother has just been pronounced the neighborhood "Hero" for calling 911 for a neighbor. Suzy is feeling left out as her friend makes the cut for an audition for a play, her birthday gets ruined, and her brother gets more attention than ever.

Suzy finds excitement in Emily Dickinson and her poems, and decides that she is going to become reclusive just like Emily. She tries it out and succeeds for a while, but soon realizes that maybe it isn't the best idea after all.
Comments: I loved this book. It was refreshing to see a girl who wasn't afraid to be herself and who stood up for herself and marched to the beat of her own drum. I loved her interest in the Phillies (I have Phillies Fanatics cousins! XD, I'm an Oriole, personally!). I also enjoyed her interest in poems and in wondering how it would be to live as Emily Dickinson or any other famous person. Suzy was and is a likeable character, and the book could apply to anyone and be read by anyone too. Whether a bedtime story book or a 12 year old looking for a somewhat short and relaxing read, this book really steals the spotlight, with its discussion on different topics that hit home for most families (& mine too!); sibling rivalry, friendship troubles, not getting your way, and a love for history. Good for every reader everywhere!

Rating: 5 stars!
Complaints: None!

All 4 Stars

Title: All 4 Stars

Author: Tara Dairman

Summary: Gladys Gatsby is a prodigy of a cook with a very sophisticated taste. However, she has to cook in secret and never gets to eat the delicious, gourmet foods she craves; all because her parents are fast-food overs and don't believe that anything can be cooked without a microwave.

Gladys secret cooking ends after she sets half the kitchen on fire and her parents are anything but understanding of her amazing talents and desire.

However, Gladys gets a chance to write about her future and to have it published in the newspaper, and Gladys writes about how she wants to be a food critic. The paper does not win, but Gladys is given the chance to be a critic for the newspaper's column. Gladys cannot tell her parents that she has been invited to be a critic for a restaurant, so she takes matters into her own hands so that she can reach her dreams, but she is having trouble finding a way.

Comments: I loved this book. There is a lot more to it than I put in the summary, because she meets friends and in the end, she does find a way to reach her dreams and continue on.

This book is just so interesting that I couldn't put it down. It was interesting to kind of see the tables turned (usually, in the stereotypical family, the adults would be like Gladys and the kids would be obsessed with fast food).

This book is totally appropriate and can be enjoyed by everyone!

Complaints: None.

Rating: 5 stars (well, in following with the book, would it be appropriate to say that it got ALL 4 STARS?! XD)

The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky

Title: The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky

Author: Holly Schindler

Summary: Auggie Jones lives with her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, in an interesting poorer neighborhood. On the first day of school, Auggie loses her best friend, Lexie, to Victoria Cole, the rich girl at their new school. Lexie becomes mean towards Auggie, and Auggie is left the only other 2 friends that she has; Harold (called "Weird Harold") and Irma Jean.

Victoria's father starts a "House Beautification" project for Auggie's neighborhood which is supposedly in violation of certain codes and "run-down". Auggie and her neighbors do not agree with taking the character out of their houses and Auggie begins to make sculptures out of the junk that Grandpa Gus picks up. The sculptures are of kids and adults doing various activities and some are even run by old motors. They look very artsy and creative, but the House Beautification team doesn't think so.

When all the neighbors and Auggie begin to rack up fines for their creative additions, Auggie sets out to get her best friend Lexie back and to show that her neighborhood is creative and beautiful. However, to do this, she thinks she will have to reach out to her mom, until she learns a tragic secret.

 

Comments: I loved this book. It was such a fun and uplifting read and I felt myself rooting for Auggie the whole time, and Victoria was just such an unlikeable little brat!XD

It wrapped together so nicely at the end and I think that it was wonderful.

The book is appropriate for all ages and many will be able to relate to many aspects of it (such as losing a friend to another girl). This book can be enjoyed by all readers and I suggest that everyone read it!

Complaints: I think it would've been nice to go into more detail with Victoria and why she was like that and to maybe have more confrontation between Lexie and Auggie, but otherwise, the book was perfect!

Rating: 5 stars!

 

Dash

Title: Dash

Author: Kirby Larson

Summary: Mitsi is living with her grandmother and her parents and brother Ted, and most importantly, her beloved dog Dash. When Mitsi and her family are forced to leave for a Japanese camp during World War II, Misti learns that she cannot bring Dash with her.

Life at the camp is very boring and sometimes very hard. After some time, Mitsi meets friends and begins to feel a little bit at home, and finds comfort in sending letters to "Dash" (really it is writing to the lady, Mrs. Bowker, that Dash is staying with).

Mitsi fears that she will never be reunited with Dash again, but towards the end of the book, she finds that there might just be some hope.

Comments: I LOVED this book so much. Mitsi is so likeable and personal with you, the way a friend would be, and being a lover of dogs, I enjoyed a character that found love in dogs just the way I do.

This book is great for learning some history and enjoying a book at the same time and seems completely appropriate for everyone, and would be especially good if you were to happen to be learning about this era during social studies/history!

Complaints: NONE! I want a sequel to find out how long she stayed at the camp and everything else!

Ratings: 5 stars!

 

Nest

Title: Nest

Author: Esther Ehrlich

Summary: Naomi "Chirp" is living with her sister Rachel, Mom, and Dad, by the shores of Cape Cod. Life isn't hard, with her nice but sometimes mean older sister, her exciting, dancing mother. But things quickly take a turn for the worst when her mother is diagnosed with MS and then is sent to a psych ward/facility away from home for months.

While her mom is away, things go on, but nothing is the same until she comes home. When they think she is finally home for good, tragedy strikes right when Chirp and her family are least expecting it.

Comments: This was a great book. I loved it (I'm 13). Chirp is extremely likeable and the details described in the book are so good that I felt I was actually there. Rachel is likeable too; in fact, the whole family really is.

While it is a great read, it is also extremely sad and the mother is obviously not mentally stable which results in a lot of tragic things happening (I don't want to ruin the book, so don't look at this if you plan to read the book, but the mother does die in the end and it is very tragic and sudden). Because of this, I do not think that the book would really be considered completely suitable for a child under the age of 12-13. (And they must be mature) 

There are also mild themes in the book including some very mild language (crap, sucks, etc., nothing horrible for an older reader book, yet something to probably keep in mind). There are also some mild older child themes, so it really depends on the maturity of the person reading it.

I loved the book very much and I think it would be appropriate for someone mature and above the age of 12.

Complaints: While they aren't bad words really, I don't think that the mild language needed to be included in the book.

Rating: 5 stars!