Listen, Slowly

Title: Listen, Slowly

 

Author: Thanhha Lai

 

Summary: Mai, a smart Californian tween's summertime plans are turned upside down when her grandmother, Ba, insists on going to Vietnam; the hometown of all of Mai's relatives and parents to find closure on the missing status of her husband - with him having been missing since the end of the war (Vietnam war, I believe). Mai isn't excited - she'd rather be surfing or going to the beach with her friends.

Mai doesn't like Viet Nam at first, but as her trip begins to unfold and things begin to happen, Mai finds freedom and friends and closure for Ba in a place where she never thought she'd want to be.

 

Comments: I really liked this book - it was long, but it was a touching read that kept me captivated until the end. Mai, I didn't find to be easily likeable. She was quite whiny and vocal in her complaints over having her summer plans ruined and having to *gasp* go to another country and experience something new. Mai claimed to be smart and low-key in the trend department, yet she obsessed over Him, a boy who she crushes on back in California for basically the whole book. When Mai wasn't criticizing the way of life in Viet Nam, she was full of unnecessary self-praise - making her even more unlikeable. At times towards the close of the book and resolution, I thought I could see glimpses of her changing, and while she had changed by the end of the book; I didn't find it to be enough change for her to be absolutely likeable. It is possible the author was trying to make a point with her coming in bratty and leaving a changed girl, but she didn't change enough for that vision to work or for that point to get across.

This book was great - I loved learning about Viet Nam; I just wish the eyes that I saw it through (Mai's eyes) would've been just a little less snooty, whiny, and full of self-praise and complaints. I would've preferred someone who maybe wasn't thrilled with the idea of running off to another country, but didn't act like a blatant brat about it. Her parents and grandmother put up with a LOT more than my parents would've and had there been a punishment for being so bratty; maybe she wouldn't have been that way.

This book is rated for 12+ because there is some graphic war content and some more mature themes between Mai and her crazy teen friend Montana and Him (things such as romance and clear references to undergarments like thongs). While Mai isn't the most likeable character, this book can really be a great teaching tool for learning Vietnam/Viet Nam history and as long as a girl understands that acting like that isn't acceptable, then the book is just fine!

Complaints: See above in the comments for my complaints.

 

Rating: 4 stars (I was just really turned off by Mai's bratty, self-centered attitude in the beginning.)

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!

Franny Parker

Title: Franny Parker

 

Author: Hannah Roberts McKinnon

 

Summary: Franny Parker is a 13 year old living on a farm with her family in Oklahoma. She loves animals and decides to begin an animal rehabilitation/hospital center. As she is beginning to rescue the animals she finds and comes to love, a new family moves in next door to her; a boy and his mother. The boy, Lucas, is very interested in animals too and the two become friends.

However, Lucas's abusive father comes around, and things begin to change, and then, Lucas goes missing. As mystery and tragedy take over her summer, she learns how to help not only animals - but others - in need.

Comments: I LOVED this book. Franny was such a likeable character and her family was quite interesting too. I liked the friendship between Franny and Lucas; it was just two friends together - there was not really any romance or any other things like that that would turn me off the book. The book was beautifully written and I really, really enjoyed it. Just because of the details of the abusive father, I would rate this probably 10+ or maybe even 12+ - judge the maturity level of the child reading the book first.

Complaints: None. This is a favorite now!

 

Rating: 5 stars!

Glory Be

Title: Glory Be

Author: Augusta Scattergood

Summary: Gloriana "Glory" is a girl about to turn 12 in Mississippi during the 1960s' while her town was still segregated between black and white. It is a summer of change for Glory. The pool, the place where Glory was to hold her birthday party, closes down for the summer, she meets a new friend; a "Yankee" girl, Laura, her sister Jesslyn becomes more mysterious and grows apart from Glory, and with their families' different opinions on segregation, things become different between Glory and her friend.

Comments: I really enjoyed this book. It seems like there are a lot of books that deal with this era, and I believe this is one of the better ones, and probably one of the better selections for a younger reader (10-11 range). My personal favorite book that deals with this time is The Lions of Little Rock, but that is probably a better choice for the older reader.

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 5 stars!

Lara's Gift

Title: Lara's Gift

 

Author: Annemarie O'Brien

 

Summary: Lara is growing up in 1914 Russia where she works for the Tsar with her father, breeding borzoi dogs in the hunting kennels. Lara wants to be the best borzoi breeder for the Tsar, however, when her mother has a baby boy, it is determined that the boy will take her place and inherit the job of breeding the borzoi dogs. Lara is upset, and soon finds herself spending her days cleaning and helping her mother. Lara knows that she belongs as the breeder for the next generation, because she has visions that can save the lives of the people and dogs.

 

Commnts: I really enjoyed this book. I love borzois, so I knew that I had to read it. Lara was likeable and while the story is apropriate, there is some pretty graphic content, so I'd say maybe a mature 10 to a 12+ for the age rating. Lara was likeable and I thought the ending was well done.

Complaints: None.
Rating: 5 stars! 

 

 

Flying the Dragon

Title: Flying the Dragon

 

Author: Natalie Dias Lorenzi

 

Summary: Sorano "Skye" is a Japanese-American girl growing up in Virginia who is focused on one thing; to make the All Star Soccer Team for the summer.

Hiroshi is a Japanese boy living in Japan with his parents and grandfather; a skilled kite maker.

However, Hiroshi's grandfather is not well; he has cancer. Hiroshi's family must come to the US if grandfather wants any chances of treatment to get well again.

In US, Hiroshi and his family move nearby his cousin; Skye. Soon, Hiroshi has to share Grandfather with Skye since he is also her grandfather as well. Hiroshi knows no English and Skye is enlisted to help him in English if he can help her learn Japanese. The two do not get along well at all at first. However, after a family tragedy, the two come together for a kite contest to honor their grandfather.

 

Comments: I enjoyed this book. Every other chapter was Skye's POV and every other was Hiroshi's view. It was an interesting story; but just because it was a bit sad (the grandfather does die), I would recommend a 10+ age rating for this book. As well as the tragedy in the book, there are also some minor inapropriate words as well, such as "sucks". However, not all families consider that a bad word (mine does). I wouldn't let that stop anyone from reading the book though.

 

Complaints: None.

 

Rating: 4 stars

 

 

Selling Hope

Title: Selling Hope

 

Author: Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

 

Summary: 13 year old Hope is traveling with her vaudeville troop along with her father in 1910 - right around the time when Halley's Comet was going to pass through. Hope is tired of traveling with her vaudeville troop and she dreams of settling down in a small town with her father. While passing through the town she used to live in before her mother died and she joined vaudeville 5 years prior, Hope sees her chance to finally get the "normal" life she wants.

To get money for rent and other expenses they will come across while settling down, Hope invents "anti-comet" pills to sell to people who fear the comet. The pills sell quickly and many take to the idea. But then, Hope begins to think about where home really is and where she would really be happy.

 

Comments: I thought this story was very interesting, and I enjoyed it (I am partial to historic fiction though). Hope was likeable and I was fascinated with the descriptions of vaudeville and how Hope was so young yet she was a performer. I also found the fear behind Halley's Comet interesting too. I don't think that anyone under the age of 10 would get everything out of this book though, so I recommend this for 10+.

 

Complaints: None

 

Rating: 5 stars