The Private Thoughts of Amelia E. Rye

Title: The Private Thoughts of Amelia E. Rye

Author: Bonnie Shimko

Summary: Amelia (Earhart) Rye is growing up in the 50s' with only her mother and grandfather. Her father ran out with another woman before Amelia was even born. Her mother is not necessarily nice and does not show love for Amelia in any way. Then, something tragic happens to her grandfather and Amelia feels lost in her outdated clothes and old glasses, and doesn't seem to make any friends at school; until Fancy Nelson comes along. Fancy is free-spirited and the first black person that Amelia has really met. They become friends and the book takes you through the struggles and excitement of their friendship. Then, the woman that Amelia's father ran off with shows up and Amelia doesn't know what to think. The woman turns out to be much, much different than Amelia expected. Towards the end of the book, Amelia's brother comes back and something very tragic happens to her mother, changing Amelia's life forever.

Comments: The storyline was full of tragedy. A lot of mean people do horrible things to Fancy because of her color and Amelia deals with a lot of tragedy, sadness, and disappointment. However, Amelia is a very likeable character and some girls may relate to the smaller pieces of her personality and story (having trouble making friends, something happening to a grandparent or parent, etc.) However, I have one big problem that makes this book stand out in a bad way.

There are cuss words in it.

Now they aren't on every page, there are only in the book here and there, but my family does not allow me to read, see, hear, etc. bad words, and most families I know feel the same, so this could be a deciding factor in whether you read the book or not. I don't want to turn you off the book or anything, the words aren't that bad (except for one "s" word - you know what I mean; I do not mean "stupid" of course).

Rating: 4 stars. The plot was great, but the occasional bad word could have been done without.

May B.: A Novel

Title: May B: A Novel

Author: Caroline Starr Rose

Summary: May B., age 11, is sent away from home to help a couple who has just moved out to their farm. She doesn't want to go, but she does, leaving her siblings and parents. They keep reminding her that she will be picked up at Christmas - no sooner and no later. However, the people she stays with are not who she thinks, and the wife is mean and cruel and the husband is too busy trying to show his wife how good life in the country can be. One day, soon after May comes to stay with them, the wife runs away secretly and the husband runs off after her, leaving May all alone. May struggles through keeping herself alive throughout the winter and the hardships of living alone on the prairie are showcased greatly. As a side story, May has trouble reading, and continues to teach herself how to read from her reading book throughout her survival months in the "soddy."

Comments: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a darker Little House on the Prairie in a way. It is written in a poetic form, but do not let this scare you away if you do not enjoy poetry! The book is well written and it is very descriptive and tastefully written. There is nothing questionable for readers in this book and this is a novel that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Rating: 5 stars!

 

The Meaning of Maggie

Title: The Meaning of Maggie

Author: Megan Jean Sovern

Summary: Maggie Mayfield is a girl growing up in the early 1990s (I think). She is very smart for her age and sees herself as the future president. She writes throughout the book on the year that changed her life. She has two sisters and life with them is NOT always easy. However, the biggest issue in her life is her dad who is now suffering from MS (multiple sclerosis), and how she goes through the scariness of her dad's body shutting down more and more. She deals with everything nicely and has such a funny wit about her that she is a character that you will all be sure to love!

Complaints: There was a bit of harsh language in the book, which I thought was completely unnecessary - I think the author's point could have been conveyed another way. It is very mild and only appears once in the book, so this could still be a read for an 11-12 year old (a girl around Maggie's age).

Comments: I loved this book! Maggie sounded a lot like me (Into studying and striving to get as smart as possible) and the book cover is relatable to me. (the candy corn, the pencils, the eraser, the fish, the student of the month, etc.) I really enjoyed this book and Maggie was such a relatable character and I felt myself truly seeing things the way she saw them throughout the book. I loved this book and I think those who would get the most enjoyment out of it would be around 11-12 (Maggie's age).

Rating: 5 stars 

 

 

Hope is a Ferris Wheel

Title: Hope is a Ferris Wheel

Author: Robin Herrera

Summary: Star Mackie lives in a trailer park with her mom, her older sister Winter. Her mom's friend Gloria, who also lives in the park, is often over. Star is her own person, with a layered hair cut (that the kids make fun of) colored blue with a dye. Star, in order to fit in starts her own club, but it doesn't work out, so she starts an Emily Dickinson poetry club instead. She has a few members and things are going somewhat alright. One day, Winter invites her on a secret trip to meet their father, who Star has never met. However, she is in for very surprising news upon seeing this man. Then, to top it off, something surprising happens to her sister. Things in the end do not turn out great, but they don't turn out bad either. The book ends with hope, relating to its title.
Comments: Star was a great character who every child should meet. It can teach empathy for others who may be in more difficult situations than yourself, and Star is inspirational in that she is her own person and I think that she is pretty comfortable in her own shoes. The book also has excerpts in it of her homework sentences which she never really ends up turning in when they are due. It is fun to read her sentences because it gives more "direct insight" to the character's feelings and thoughts.
Complaints: This was a really good book, but there were some "iffy" parts. There is some potty humor in the book (XD I feel so weird writing that :P) and not everyone will agree or like what happens to Winter in the end (I would tell you, but I'd hate to spoil the book!)
Really, I think that children should be over 10 to read this and be mature readers to handle somewhat mature topics. (Otherwise, besides a few minor mature topics, the book is a compelling read!
Rating: 5 stars

 

One for the Murphys

Title: One for the Murphys

Author: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Summary: Carly Connors has been separated from her mom who is recovering in the hospital and is sent to live with a foster family; the Murphys. It turns out that her mother wasn't a good parent and her mother's boyfriend was extremely abusive. Carly comes to the Murphys' home mad and angry at the world, but slowy becomes the person she never thought she'd be and gets the life she never dreamed of having. She has friends, goes to school, has brothers (or not real brothers; just the Murphy boys), and finally gets a loving mother and father. However, at the end, she gets surprising news from her mother, creating a dramatic and sad ending.

 

Comments: I LOVED this book! It was really powerful and conveyed a wide range of emotions beautifully. I was crying at the end (or almost), because it was just so sad and emotional. I wouldn't recommend this to children under 10, just because it is sort of sad, it deals with a flashback to her mother and boyfriend abusing her and all that, so it is a bit scary and of course, sad. It's a great book though, and besides being emotional, it is appropriate.

  This book is the perfect book for a day that one just wants to read a dramatic, sad and happy well written novel!

 

Rating: 5 stars!

The Year of the Fortune Cookie!

Title: The Year of the Fortune Cookie (Anna Wang Series)

Author: Andrea Cheng

Summary: This is the third book in the Anna Wang series, where Anna and her friends start middle school. Laura is going to a different school now, so Anna feels a bit lost with only 1 of her friends with her, but now Anna is making different friends and everyone is having a pretty good time. However, it is also around this time that Anna begins to question whether she really likes being Chinese and she begins to feel a bit insecure. Anna's old teacher is going to China to adopt a baby just like Anna's family did for Kaylee! Anna is given the chance to go with them to China to help them, and she accepts the offer. However, on the plane ride there, she begins to wonder if it was the best idea to accept, since she won't be with her family for the Christmas season, and she starts to feel homesick. It's getting better though, when Anna meets a new friend in China - a waitress in the hotel, and things get even better when Anna gets her wish to go and see the orphanage that Kaylee was adopted from, and to give cute crochet hats for each of the orphanage babies.

Anna then realizes that in the end, things are alright.

Comments: I really liked this story! I love when authors make age-appropriate books for middle schoolers (it is an easy read, but Anna is a 6th grader). The book also teaches you Chinese and is pretty educational! Anna is a relatable character that most kids are sure to love! (I know I do!)

Complaints: I sort of feel like it was a bit unrealistic that Anna got to explore the town and go to the park and down to the hotel lobby without any adult supervision, especially in a big city, but otherwise, the book was really good!

Rating: 5 stars!

The Year of the Baby

Title: The Year of the Baby (the Anna Wang Series)

Author: Andrea Chang

Summary: This book features all of the characters from The Year of the Book (I reviewed that one too!) - it's a sequel. Anna's family has adopted a baby girl from China (by the time the book starts, the baby is already home - they do not go to China in this book). However, Baby Kaylee won't eat and the doctors are starting to worry about her health. For their school science project, Anna and her friends see if she will eat when different songs are sung to her or when no songs at all our sung to her. Their science experiment is smart, and their results are quite interesting.

 

Comments: The whole book is a great, wholesome read that any child read about. Anna's love for her sister is so sweet, and Kaylee is just sweet in general. Anna is a great character that most people can relate to in many different ways. Anna is also a great role model for kids of today, and it's fun to watch her do such interesting and smart things with her friends in this uniquely written book!

 

Complaints: None! I feel like this book was a bit longer than Year of the Book, and my complaint for that book was it being too short, so this book is perfect!

Rating: 5 stars