by Mark Batterson
Hennepin County Library paperback 103 pages
genre: non-fiction Christian faith, encouragement
I've ordered ten of these $2.50 books off Amazon. I kept wanted to write in it, make notes, share with other parents . . . And even though my children are adults, I want to pray circles around their lives and their marriages. He wrote this for people who are raising their children, but it's never to late to pray for the people you love!
I didn't read his first book on prayer circles, and I'm not sure I want to. The legend of Hosni doesn't capture my attention the way the Scriptures and examples from his life as a parent and other parents did.
Monday, July 24, 2017
Sticks and Stones
by Abby Cooper
Hennepin County Library hardcover 276
genre: YA fiction
Basic premise: Sixth grader Elyse has a rare condition with the acronym of CAV. Words people call her show up on her arms and legs. If they are nice, like "beautiful" or "cool," they tickle or soothe. If they are unkind, they itch badly.
This book is clearly written for younger readers and I had to shift my mindset to that of an eleven-year-old.
What I liked:
- Her monthly letters to her future self got better (more interesting) as the book went on (as the character matured over the course of the year)
- The humor of Dr. Patel saying "People are changing. Your body is changing." / Elyse: "Ew. I squirmed in my seat. That was one change we really did not need to discuss." That reminded me of the time my dad offered to talk to me about menstruation. I was thirteen and thought, "Why on God's green earth would I talk to YOU about that when I have mom and two sisters?!?!" Or something along those lines . . .
- The truth of some of the experiences, like Jeg handing out invitations to her birthday party and skipping her former-best-friend Elyse. "She saw me looking at her empty hands and gave me one of those you-don't-get-it looks people give me when they pat my leg. Then she skipped away with Snotty Ami and Lindsey, laughing loudly at something (how was something always funny?), just as boppy and perky and annoying as she had come."
- I like that she made other friendships. "I forced my gaze away from Liam and Jeg and looked at JaShawn, Hector, Layla, and Nice Andy. My friends. Why did I care so much about people who didn't care about me?"
What I disliked:
- How does a best friend and defender suddenly ditch her and act so awful? The reasons are explained late in the book, but baffles me all the same. Perhaps because I've not experienced that kind of betrayal.
- The overall shallowness of the storytelling . . . probably because the protagonist is a sixth grader. Or because I've been reading other books that are more complex lately.
- With such a focus on name-calling and how hurtful it is, why does she consistently refer to a classmate as "Snotty Ami"? Again, she addresses this later in the book, realizing that Ami is a person, too. And she is even extremely kind and thoughtful to this unkind girl, but still . . .
I think what I liked best about this book is learning that the author is from Minnesota and a former teacher and school librarian. Hey, I'm biased!
Hennepin County Library hardcover 276
genre: YA fiction
Basic premise: Sixth grader Elyse has a rare condition with the acronym of CAV. Words people call her show up on her arms and legs. If they are nice, like "beautiful" or "cool," they tickle or soothe. If they are unkind, they itch badly.
This book is clearly written for younger readers and I had to shift my mindset to that of an eleven-year-old.
What I liked:
- Her monthly letters to her future self got better (more interesting) as the book went on (as the character matured over the course of the year)
- The humor of Dr. Patel saying "People are changing. Your body is changing." / Elyse: "Ew. I squirmed in my seat. That was one change we really did not need to discuss." That reminded me of the time my dad offered to talk to me about menstruation. I was thirteen and thought, "Why on God's green earth would I talk to YOU about that when I have mom and two sisters?!?!" Or something along those lines . . .
- The truth of some of the experiences, like Jeg handing out invitations to her birthday party and skipping her former-best-friend Elyse. "She saw me looking at her empty hands and gave me one of those you-don't-get-it looks people give me when they pat my leg. Then she skipped away with Snotty Ami and Lindsey, laughing loudly at something (how was something always funny?), just as boppy and perky and annoying as she had come."
- I like that she made other friendships. "I forced my gaze away from Liam and Jeg and looked at JaShawn, Hector, Layla, and Nice Andy. My friends. Why did I care so much about people who didn't care about me?"
What I disliked:
- How does a best friend and defender suddenly ditch her and act so awful? The reasons are explained late in the book, but baffles me all the same. Perhaps because I've not experienced that kind of betrayal.
- The overall shallowness of the storytelling . . . probably because the protagonist is a sixth grader. Or because I've been reading other books that are more complex lately.
- With such a focus on name-calling and how hurtful it is, why does she consistently refer to a classmate as "Snotty Ami"? Again, she addresses this later in the book, realizing that Ami is a person, too. And she is even extremely kind and thoughtful to this unkind girl, but still . . .
I think what I liked best about this book is learning that the author is from Minnesota and a former teacher and school librarian. Hey, I'm biased!
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Adventure North: 2,200 Miles by Canoe, 49 Days in the Wild
by Sean Bloomfield
foreword by Colton Witte
Hennepin County Library paperback 208 pages
genre: Non-fiction memoir
I have known Sean for a few years; I taught at a different school in district 112 and had met him at some meetings. I didn't connect the teacher to the teenager I had read about in the Star Tribune years earlier! Having read Sevareid's Canoeing with the Cree, I appreciated these young men being inspired by it and following through on their idea to recreate a canoe trip from the Twin Cities to the Hudson Bay.
The writing was engaging and I loved having the photos in the back to look at periodically, to see their chronicle of the trip. I wish the book had included clearer maps, though.
Page 19 - Colton's humor comes through early and often. ". . . we turned the corner and they were out of sight. Suddenly, all was silent. We were alone. 'And here is where we hid our trolling motor,' Colton joked." I don't know Colton Witte, but he seems to have an amazing personality!
Page 33 - "There was no real reason for checking our location, other than to interrupt the monotony and to emotionally confirm progress. If we knew where we were, then we could calculate how fast we were traveling, and more importantly, how far we would get in that day. Apparently, boredom makes arithmetic fun for even the most mediocre of math students. We used enough algebraic equations that it seemed only fair we should have received some type of grade bump on our high school transcripts."That could be a bumper sticker: "Apparently, boredom makes arithmetic fun." Or maybe not.
Page 49 - "While environmental advocacy would have surely benefited our finances, it added a complex element to a trip whose crux was something simple: a boyhood dream." I love this! Recognizing that the purpose was to fulfill a dream - in today's world, I think that simple focus is lovely.
Page 61 - "Many strangers went out of their way to lend a helping hand. I became certain that there was not a better way to learn about small-town America than a canoe journey through its core." This is also quite lovely - seeing the positives in people and in life instead of just the ugly side of things.
Page 98 - When their parents connect with them near Winnipeg and they got into the vehicle, Colton's mom exclaimed, "Whew! Let's get you two into a shower!" Again, Colton's sense of humor shone through when he said, "Gladly. Sean stinks!" Of course, they were both pungent with all the exertion and no shower in almost a week. I can only imagine what they smelled like by the time they got to Hudson Bay!
Page 172 - When Sean talks about Minnesotans and being passive-aggressive, it makes me think of a new T-shirt design I saw recently from Tom Foolery. I don't really think much about this phenomenon, having lived here all my life. When he describes how the stress started affecting him and his friend, I had to think about how most people would handle it. How would I handle it? I didn't realize / remember that Sevareid and Port had fought at this point in their trip. (Perhaps I need to re-read Canoeing with the Cree!) This would be a wonderful discussion book - planning, persistence, learning by experience, . . .
I'm glad this made it on to our summer reading list! I may reflect on it during our BWCA trip next month.
foreword by Colton Witte
Hennepin County Library paperback 208 pages
genre: Non-fiction memoir
I have known Sean for a few years; I taught at a different school in district 112 and had met him at some meetings. I didn't connect the teacher to the teenager I had read about in the Star Tribune years earlier! Having read Sevareid's Canoeing with the Cree, I appreciated these young men being inspired by it and following through on their idea to recreate a canoe trip from the Twin Cities to the Hudson Bay.
The writing was engaging and I loved having the photos in the back to look at periodically, to see their chronicle of the trip. I wish the book had included clearer maps, though.
Page 19 - Colton's humor comes through early and often. ". . . we turned the corner and they were out of sight. Suddenly, all was silent. We were alone. 'And here is where we hid our trolling motor,' Colton joked." I don't know Colton Witte, but he seems to have an amazing personality!
Page 33 - "There was no real reason for checking our location, other than to interrupt the monotony and to emotionally confirm progress. If we knew where we were, then we could calculate how fast we were traveling, and more importantly, how far we would get in that day. Apparently, boredom makes arithmetic fun for even the most mediocre of math students. We used enough algebraic equations that it seemed only fair we should have received some type of grade bump on our high school transcripts."That could be a bumper sticker: "Apparently, boredom makes arithmetic fun." Or maybe not.
Page 49 - "While environmental advocacy would have surely benefited our finances, it added a complex element to a trip whose crux was something simple: a boyhood dream." I love this! Recognizing that the purpose was to fulfill a dream - in today's world, I think that simple focus is lovely.
Page 61 - "Many strangers went out of their way to lend a helping hand. I became certain that there was not a better way to learn about small-town America than a canoe journey through its core." This is also quite lovely - seeing the positives in people and in life instead of just the ugly side of things.
Page 98 - When their parents connect with them near Winnipeg and they got into the vehicle, Colton's mom exclaimed, "Whew! Let's get you two into a shower!" Again, Colton's sense of humor shone through when he said, "Gladly. Sean stinks!" Of course, they were both pungent with all the exertion and no shower in almost a week. I can only imagine what they smelled like by the time they got to Hudson Bay!
Page 172 - When Sean talks about Minnesotans and being passive-aggressive, it makes me think of a new T-shirt design I saw recently from Tom Foolery. I don't really think much about this phenomenon, having lived here all my life. When he describes how the stress started affecting him and his friend, I had to think about how most people would handle it. How would I handle it? I didn't realize / remember that Sevareid and Port had fought at this point in their trip. (Perhaps I need to re-read Canoeing with the Cree!) This would be a wonderful discussion book - planning, persistence, learning by experience, . . .I'm glad this made it on to our summer reading list! I may reflect on it during our BWCA trip next month.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing
by Jasper Fforde
Scott County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by Emily Gray
genre: speculative fantasy (grin - thinking of the Council of Genres)
These books are so darn quirky! I haven't read a Thursday Next book in a while . . . and The Eyre Affair will always be my favorite. But I really enjoyed this book and am continually amazed by Fforde's cleverness.
This reminded me of The Phantom Tollbooth in that it is so much about language and probably would appeal to similar geeks! That love of books and language shines through. The "textual world" is a great place and his creative expose' on the Book World amuses me.
I love the reader's British accent and how she creates the different characters vocally.
I love that Fforde has kept it current with modern references. In talking about the reader "feedback loop" and its impact on what characters look like in the Book World, Harry Potter is seriously ticked off that he has to look like Daniel Radcliffe for the rest of his days.
I made a note to look up the bibliography to see which of the books in this series I have and haven't read . . . I think I lost interest with the Well of Lost Plots.
According to Wikipedia: "The first series is made up of the novels The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, The Well of Lost Plots and Something Rotten. The second series is so far made up of First Among Sequels, One of Our Thursdays Is Missing and The Woman Who Died a Lot."
The conflict in this book between "racy novel" and "women's literature" is underscored by the tight market on metaphors. I love this book!
When the written Thursday Next travels to the Real World to try to find the "real" Thursday Next, there were so many amusing and / or thought-provoking lines. I wrote down this one: "Eighty percent of talk in the Real World is pointless. The people who don't say much are the ones worth listening to." That's technically a paraphrase, not a quote. It's hard to take notes while listening and driving!
Her entire visit to the Real World and observations on life outside of the Book World were interesting. I also loved her visit to Biography. Fforde is genius!
I had grabbed a bunch of books on CD while at the library and didn't remember which Thursday Next book this was. I don't know if it's a different recording / copy of what I listened to in 2017, but this one had EXTREMELY long pauses at the track changes (which weren't just at the chapter breaks). I kept checking to see if the CD was over! Other than that irritation, I enjoyed the book (again). It is such a strange story that it was fun to just listen and not try to think too hard to figure things out. I love the literary allusions and inside jokes, especially the "Mediocre Gatsby" and the way things are in vanity fiction. I need to get one of the other books that I've not read. I dislike The Well of Lost Plots, but am not sure if I've read the others. The Eyre Affair remains my favorite!
Scott County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by Emily Gray
genre: speculative fantasy (grin - thinking of the Council of Genres)
These books are so darn quirky! I haven't read a Thursday Next book in a while . . . and The Eyre Affair will always be my favorite. But I really enjoyed this book and am continually amazed by Fforde's cleverness.
This reminded me of The Phantom Tollbooth in that it is so much about language and probably would appeal to similar geeks! That love of books and language shines through. The "textual world" is a great place and his creative expose' on the Book World amuses me.
I love the reader's British accent and how she creates the different characters vocally.
I love that Fforde has kept it current with modern references. In talking about the reader "feedback loop" and its impact on what characters look like in the Book World, Harry Potter is seriously ticked off that he has to look like Daniel Radcliffe for the rest of his days.
I made a note to look up the bibliography to see which of the books in this series I have and haven't read . . . I think I lost interest with the Well of Lost Plots.
According to Wikipedia: "The first series is made up of the novels The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, The Well of Lost Plots and Something Rotten. The second series is so far made up of First Among Sequels, One of Our Thursdays Is Missing and The Woman Who Died a Lot."
The conflict in this book between "racy novel" and "women's literature" is underscored by the tight market on metaphors. I love this book!
When the written Thursday Next travels to the Real World to try to find the "real" Thursday Next, there were so many amusing and / or thought-provoking lines. I wrote down this one: "Eighty percent of talk in the Real World is pointless. The people who don't say much are the ones worth listening to." That's technically a paraphrase, not a quote. It's hard to take notes while listening and driving!
Her entire visit to the Real World and observations on life outside of the Book World were interesting. I also loved her visit to Biography. Fforde is genius!
I had grabbed a bunch of books on CD while at the library and didn't remember which Thursday Next book this was. I don't know if it's a different recording / copy of what I listened to in 2017, but this one had EXTREMELY long pauses at the track changes (which weren't just at the chapter breaks). I kept checking to see if the CD was over! Other than that irritation, I enjoyed the book (again). It is such a strange story that it was fun to just listen and not try to think too hard to figure things out. I love the literary allusions and inside jokes, especially the "Mediocre Gatsby" and the way things are in vanity fiction. I need to get one of the other books that I've not read. I dislike The Well of Lost Plots, but am not sure if I've read the others. The Eyre Affair remains my favorite!
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
by Chelsea Sedoti
Hennepin County Library hardcover 383 pages
audiobook 2/8 CDs . . . read by Jessica Almasy
genre: YA realistic fiction
I did not like this book. Because of the audiobook's reader's voice? (I had to return them to the library after only getting through two of them.) Because I wasn't in the mood for angsty teen fic? Because it's inane?
I'm honestly not sure, but I tried to finish by speed-reading it because I disliked it so much.
Notes:
Page 307 - "'Hawthorn, you've got it in your head that I'm supposed to, I don't know, be the hero of your story. But I'm not. Life doesn't work like that, OK? You need to let people be who they are, not who you want them to be. Stop making everything so complicated.'" Tell her, Enzo!
Part I liked! The curses Hawthorn dished out (after her mom told her when she was little not to wish something truly awful, like death) - When her mom's friends the hippies showed up - page 130. "I wished all their tents would blow away. I wished the government would place a ban on tie-dye and unwashed hair. I wished their pot would turn into oregano." These rants that Hawthorn had were so amusing! Too bad there were only a half-dozen in the entire book.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 383 pages
audiobook 2/8 CDs . . . read by Jessica Almasy
genre: YA realistic fiction
I did not like this book. Because of the audiobook's reader's voice? (I had to return them to the library after only getting through two of them.) Because I wasn't in the mood for angsty teen fic? Because it's inane?
I'm honestly not sure, but I tried to finish by speed-reading it because I disliked it so much.
Notes:
- self-centered narrator (Hawthorn)
- Cool names - Hawthorn and her brother Rush (short for Rushford)
- egocentric, bad attitude
- friend Emily - how did they become and stay friends?!?! (answered later . . . )
- wishing "curses" on people / mildly amusing / very creative / may well have been my favorite part of the book! (example below)
- what a whiner!
- overactive imagination
- very immature
- werewolves? Seriously?
Page 307 - "'Hawthorn, you've got it in your head that I'm supposed to, I don't know, be the hero of your story. But I'm not. Life doesn't work like that, OK? You need to let people be who they are, not who you want them to be. Stop making everything so complicated.'" Tell her, Enzo!
Part I liked! The curses Hawthorn dished out (after her mom told her when she was little not to wish something truly awful, like death) - When her mom's friends the hippies showed up - page 130. "I wished all their tents would blow away. I wished the government would place a ban on tie-dye and unwashed hair. I wished their pot would turn into oregano." These rants that Hawthorn had were so amusing! Too bad there were only a half-dozen in the entire book.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Catching the Wind
by Melanie Dobson
Dakota County Library paperback 387 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
I read this in an afternoon and evening! So glad to have a book club book that I enjoyed so much. And this is the first I've read from this author, which bodes well for other titles!
The 1940s story is about Dietmar and Brigitte, 13- and 10- year old neighbors and friends. The 2017 story is about Dietmar (now Daniel Knight) hiring journalist Quenby Vaughn to find Brigitte, or what happened to her. Quenby's own life story becomes tangled up in Daniel's quest. She also gets involved with his lawyer, Lucas Hough.
Page 74 - I love when they're firing Bible verses at one another. It's a good scene, and very natural - not preachy at all. Ending with "We each choose between good and bad in our hearts, and our actions follow."
Page 96 - "Here in the storm, tears could fall freely down his cheeks, mixing with the torrent of God's grief falling from the sky. On days like this, he thought God must surely be crying over the destruction mankind unleashed on one another. At the sight of His children entrenched in violent bitterness and jealousy, their barbaric quest for power detached from Him." Yes, that seems pretty accurate whether you're looking at what the Nazis did, or at what people are capable of doing today.
Page 96 - "Youth today didn't understand a world before social media and mobile phones, before one could search the Internet for a missing person or post their picture on screens around the world. And many people - today and from years past - didn't understand or honor faithfulness. A deep commitment to those you loved, to persevere no matter what. One didn't just forget a lost friend." This is so true! On so many levels!
Page 327 - The descriptions of Disney and the magic of the place made me think of Kim Enfield! I hope she's at book club!
Page 348 - Ugh. I kind of saw this coming, but as soon as I read the name "Jocelyn" in Hannah's narrative . . . I exclaimed out loud. (Sorry if this spoils it for other readers, but it is kind of pathetic.)
Page 370 - "There's power in story . . . We may be powerless at times in this life, but on paper, we can chase our demons away." I love this observation by Bridget (Brigitte) and the fact that they had refugee children write their own stories.
Page 391 (in the author's note) - "Catching the Wind was written with a grateful heart to all those who've helped abandoned, orphaned, and refugee children begin a new story." She goes on to list some organizations that help care for kids:
remembernhu.org
hearthecry.org
worldorphans.org
runministries.org
worldrelief.org
prayforthem.com
I'm so looking forward to book club in just over a week!
Dakota County Library paperback 387 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
I read this in an afternoon and evening! So glad to have a book club book that I enjoyed so much. And this is the first I've read from this author, which bodes well for other titles!
The 1940s story is about Dietmar and Brigitte, 13- and 10- year old neighbors and friends. The 2017 story is about Dietmar (now Daniel Knight) hiring journalist Quenby Vaughn to find Brigitte, or what happened to her. Quenby's own life story becomes tangled up in Daniel's quest. She also gets involved with his lawyer, Lucas Hough.
Page 74 - I love when they're firing Bible verses at one another. It's a good scene, and very natural - not preachy at all. Ending with "We each choose between good and bad in our hearts, and our actions follow."
Page 96 - "Here in the storm, tears could fall freely down his cheeks, mixing with the torrent of God's grief falling from the sky. On days like this, he thought God must surely be crying over the destruction mankind unleashed on one another. At the sight of His children entrenched in violent bitterness and jealousy, their barbaric quest for power detached from Him." Yes, that seems pretty accurate whether you're looking at what the Nazis did, or at what people are capable of doing today.
Page 96 - "Youth today didn't understand a world before social media and mobile phones, before one could search the Internet for a missing person or post their picture on screens around the world. And many people - today and from years past - didn't understand or honor faithfulness. A deep commitment to those you loved, to persevere no matter what. One didn't just forget a lost friend." This is so true! On so many levels!
Page 327 - The descriptions of Disney and the magic of the place made me think of Kim Enfield! I hope she's at book club!
Page 348 - Ugh. I kind of saw this coming, but as soon as I read the name "Jocelyn" in Hannah's narrative . . . I exclaimed out loud. (Sorry if this spoils it for other readers, but it is kind of pathetic.)
Page 370 - "There's power in story . . . We may be powerless at times in this life, but on paper, we can chase our demons away." I love this observation by Bridget (Brigitte) and the fact that they had refugee children write their own stories.
Page 391 (in the author's note) - "Catching the Wind was written with a grateful heart to all those who've helped abandoned, orphaned, and refugee children begin a new story." She goes on to list some organizations that help care for kids:
remembernhu.org
hearthecry.org
worldorphans.org
runministries.org
worldrelief.org
prayforthem.com
I'm so looking forward to book club in just over a week!
Friday, July 14, 2017
Comics Confidential: Thirteen Graphic Novelists Talk Story, Craft, and Life Outside the Box
by Leonard S. Marcus
Hennepin County Library hardcover 163 pages
genre: YA non-fiction
This was in our Litwits list as a graphic novel . . . but it's actually a non-fiction book about graphic novelists (or as the newer term "comics artists.") Each of the thirteen includes an interview and a two-page comic about "the city." I loved seeing the different styles and interpretations. The interviews were interesting, too. Many of these people were new names to me!
I loved in David Small's foreword where he wrote, "Art-making at its best is a confrontation with the mysterious and the irrational. If we listen to the people concerned mainly with classification or marketing, we end up not making honest and true works of art, but only product, rubber-stamped and made to fit into a prefab box that might as well be a casket."
As a fan of comics and the history of the form, I found this book to be very interesting. The rise of web comics has fueled a lot of fresh creativity and a new generation of talent. I have long loved comics and to me, "graphic novels" still describe full-length stories told in comic book form.
In the interview with Matt Phelan, I like how he said, "You don't have to be a professional to benefit from pursuing creative work." I think that's a powerful idea. These thirteen people all make a living from their creativity, but he acknowledges including in one of his stories that "various 'ordinary' folks they know who paint or play music for the sheer enjoyment of it is crucial to the story."
Hennepin County Library hardcover 163 pages
genre: YA non-fiction
This was in our Litwits list as a graphic novel . . . but it's actually a non-fiction book about graphic novelists (or as the newer term "comics artists.") Each of the thirteen includes an interview and a two-page comic about "the city." I loved seeing the different styles and interpretations. The interviews were interesting, too. Many of these people were new names to me!
I loved in David Small's foreword where he wrote, "Art-making at its best is a confrontation with the mysterious and the irrational. If we listen to the people concerned mainly with classification or marketing, we end up not making honest and true works of art, but only product, rubber-stamped and made to fit into a prefab box that might as well be a casket."
As a fan of comics and the history of the form, I found this book to be very interesting. The rise of web comics has fueled a lot of fresh creativity and a new generation of talent. I have long loved comics and to me, "graphic novels" still describe full-length stories told in comic book form.
In the interview with Matt Phelan, I like how he said, "You don't have to be a professional to benefit from pursuing creative work." I think that's a powerful idea. These thirteen people all make a living from their creativity, but he acknowledges including in one of his stories that "various 'ordinary' folks they know who paint or play music for the sheer enjoyment of it is crucial to the story."
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Samurai Rising: The Epic LIfe of Minamoto Yoshitsune
by Pamela Turner
Illustrated by Gareth Hinds
Hennepin County Library hardcover 163 pages plus LOTS of author's notes, time lines, glossary, chapter notes, etc.
genre: YA non-fiction
The author certainly did extensive research and has a passion for her topic and Japan's history. That said, I can't think of many middle school readers who would read this book start to finish. She made it as interesting and story-like as possible. It made me think of Jean Fritz' history stories, in a way.
But there were so many names that were so similar, and it was hard to appreciate and admire samurai who were pretty ruthless murderers. And the poor commoners! Imagine having your home set on fire to provide light for warriors to go on their rampage. Ugh. I basically forced myself to read this.
Illustrated by Gareth Hinds
Hennepin County Library hardcover 163 pages plus LOTS of author's notes, time lines, glossary, chapter notes, etc.
genre: YA non-fiction
The author certainly did extensive research and has a passion for her topic and Japan's history. That said, I can't think of many middle school readers who would read this book start to finish. She made it as interesting and story-like as possible. It made me think of Jean Fritz' history stories, in a way.
But there were so many names that were so similar, and it was hard to appreciate and admire samurai who were pretty ruthless murderers. And the poor commoners! Imagine having your home set on fire to provide light for warriors to go on their rampage. Ugh. I basically forced myself to read this.
The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle
by Janet Fox
Scott County Library hardcover 388 pages
Scott County audiobook 6/8(?) CDs
read by Fiona Hardingham
genre: YA spooky
This was creepier than I anticipated. Louie and I listened to it on our way to and from the lake, but I had to return it to the library, so I got a print copy to finish. I'm not a very good listener! There were so many things I missed . . . I read chapters 44-48, which we had already listened to, and had missed some important info!
During the London blitz of WWII, Kat and her younger brother and sister go to a boarding school in Scotland to keep them safe. There are other children there, but not many. They're locked in their rooms overnight - "for their safety" - and evil, mechanical beings, ghosts, hidden passages, a German spy, and other elements make them anything but safe. The chatelaine and the evil history-defying Lady Leonore / Eleanor were truly creepy. It had a happily ever after ending, which I appreciated. Cook was my favorite character.
Scott County Library hardcover 388 pages
Scott County audiobook 6/8(?) CDs
read by Fiona Hardingham
genre: YA spooky
This was creepier than I anticipated. Louie and I listened to it on our way to and from the lake, but I had to return it to the library, so I got a print copy to finish. I'm not a very good listener! There were so many things I missed . . . I read chapters 44-48, which we had already listened to, and had missed some important info!
During the London blitz of WWII, Kat and her younger brother and sister go to a boarding school in Scotland to keep them safe. There are other children there, but not many. They're locked in their rooms overnight - "for their safety" - and evil, mechanical beings, ghosts, hidden passages, a German spy, and other elements make them anything but safe. The chatelaine and the evil history-defying Lady Leonore / Eleanor were truly creepy. It had a happily ever after ending, which I appreciated. Cook was my favorite character.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Wish You Well
by David Baldacci
PRMS withdrawn hardcover 399 pages
genre: historical, realistic fiction
I like Baldacci's writing better than Nicholas Sparks' (but that's not saying much since I despise Sparks). You can read a description of this book on Amazon. To jog my memory: set in the 1940s, Lou and Oz go to the Virginia mountains to live with their great-grandma Louisa when their dad is killed in a car accident. Pathos and folksiness ensue. Predictable ending? Yep.
Funny part - when the kids are talking about church and Lou explains the Catholic school they went to in New York (with the Sacraments, the Creed, the Rosary, etc.) "Diamond . . . looked truly bewildered. 'Huh. Who'd thunk believing in God be such hard work? Prob'ly why ain't no Catolicks up this way. Tax the head too much.'"
And two pages later, Eugene to the kids: "'Miz Louisa, she believe in God with all her soul. But she don't subscribe to church much. She say the way some folk run they's churches, it take God right out cha heart.'" Amen! I'm glad I don't go to that kind of church, but I know what he's referring to!
I did love the scene when the neighbors showed up to do a barn raising . . .
PRMS withdrawn hardcover 399 pages
genre: historical, realistic fiction
I like Baldacci's writing better than Nicholas Sparks' (but that's not saying much since I despise Sparks). You can read a description of this book on Amazon. To jog my memory: set in the 1940s, Lou and Oz go to the Virginia mountains to live with their great-grandma Louisa when their dad is killed in a car accident. Pathos and folksiness ensue. Predictable ending? Yep.
Funny part - when the kids are talking about church and Lou explains the Catholic school they went to in New York (with the Sacraments, the Creed, the Rosary, etc.) "Diamond . . . looked truly bewildered. 'Huh. Who'd thunk believing in God be such hard work? Prob'ly why ain't no Catolicks up this way. Tax the head too much.'"
And two pages later, Eugene to the kids: "'Miz Louisa, she believe in God with all her soul. But she don't subscribe to church much. She say the way some folk run they's churches, it take God right out cha heart.'" Amen! I'm glad I don't go to that kind of church, but I know what he's referring to!
I did love the scene when the neighbors showed up to do a barn raising . . .
Dear American Airlines
by Jonathan Miles
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 CDs
read by Mark Bramhall
genre: realistic fiction
I thought this would be a funny, light book. Not so much. There *were* parts that made me laugh out loud, like when he referred to a burrito he'd eaten as a "hippo turd." But it was much more crude and sad than funny. What kept me going? It was also touching and beautiful in parts.
Liked:
- literary allusions galore!
- fascinating characters - Miss Willa (his mom), Stella and Stella Junior ("Speck"), etc.
- Biblical references - Abraham on Mount Moriah, Matthew 3:20, etc.
- His dad, a Polish exterminator who becomes a mechanic.
Disliked:
- way too much alcohol! That was part of Bennie's character and the storyline, I know. But it was so painful that he kept drowning himself in alcohol. And ruining his life and the lives of others with his drinking.
- Aloysius (?) and the story about Volente (?) that Bennie is working to translate . . . I probably wasn't being a very attentive listener, because it always seemed so disjointed to switch from Bennie's storyline (either waiting at O'Hare or in his own past) to the narrative from the story that he is translating. I'm sure it fit / paralleled perfectly well, but my brain didn't reconcile the Polish author's post-war story with the main story.
- not knowing at the end if Bennie connected with his daughter, committed suicide, or what . . . again, I probably wasn't being super attentive but I get the sense that the ending is purposefully vague.
Basically, this was a much more sophisticated (and yet, also crude with language and sex) story than I anticipated. I thought it was a funny rant against airlines and their infuriating policies. From the blurb on the back: "Frustrated, irate, and helpless, he starts a letter. But what begins as a hilariously excoriating demand for a refund soon becomes the cri de coeur of a life misspent, of talent wasted. His letter is a marvel of lacerating wit, heart-on-sleeve emotion, and wide-ranging erudition . . . "
Bramhall's vocal work is amazing - the softer female voices, the N'O'leans drawl, the Polish, the emotion . . . he had it all.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 CDs
read by Mark Bramhall
genre: realistic fiction
I thought this would be a funny, light book. Not so much. There *were* parts that made me laugh out loud, like when he referred to a burrito he'd eaten as a "hippo turd." But it was much more crude and sad than funny. What kept me going? It was also touching and beautiful in parts.
Liked:
- literary allusions galore!
- fascinating characters - Miss Willa (his mom), Stella and Stella Junior ("Speck"), etc.
- Biblical references - Abraham on Mount Moriah, Matthew 3:20, etc.
- His dad, a Polish exterminator who becomes a mechanic.
Disliked:
- way too much alcohol! That was part of Bennie's character and the storyline, I know. But it was so painful that he kept drowning himself in alcohol. And ruining his life and the lives of others with his drinking.
- Aloysius (?) and the story about Volente (?) that Bennie is working to translate . . . I probably wasn't being a very attentive listener, because it always seemed so disjointed to switch from Bennie's storyline (either waiting at O'Hare or in his own past) to the narrative from the story that he is translating. I'm sure it fit / paralleled perfectly well, but my brain didn't reconcile the Polish author's post-war story with the main story.
- not knowing at the end if Bennie connected with his daughter, committed suicide, or what . . . again, I probably wasn't being super attentive but I get the sense that the ending is purposefully vague.
Basically, this was a much more sophisticated (and yet, also crude with language and sex) story than I anticipated. I thought it was a funny rant against airlines and their infuriating policies. From the blurb on the back: "Frustrated, irate, and helpless, he starts a letter. But what begins as a hilariously excoriating demand for a refund soon becomes the cri de coeur of a life misspent, of talent wasted. His letter is a marvel of lacerating wit, heart-on-sleeve emotion, and wide-ranging erudition . . . "
Bramhall's vocal work is amazing - the softer female voices, the N'O'leans drawl, the Polish, the emotion . . . he had it all.
Friday, July 07, 2017
The Book of Mistakes
by Corinna Luyken
Scott County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
This was fun to read, though the story is most definitely told through pictures! Each time a mistake is made, she finds a way to adapt the illustration to accommodate it. This would be great with students who are perfectionists . . . to see that perfect isn't necessarily best. I love the more and more detailed drawings as more and more mistakes are made and modified.
Scott County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
This was fun to read, though the story is most definitely told through pictures! Each time a mistake is made, she finds a way to adapt the illustration to accommodate it. This would be great with students who are perfectionists . . . to see that perfect isn't necessarily best. I love the more and more detailed drawings as more and more mistakes are made and modified.
They All Saw a Cat
by Brendan Wenzel
Scott County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
I loved this! As in, I may need to buy a copy for when I have grandkids. This could totally be used with middle school and high school kids on the concept of perspective. Wenzel did an amazing job with the art - using colors, styles, etc. to portray the cat so differently to different individuals. This would be a great read-aloud! It has enough repetition to engage the audience's familiarity while drawing them forward to see what's next.
Scott County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
I loved this! As in, I may need to buy a copy for when I have grandkids. This could totally be used with middle school and high school kids on the concept of perspective. Wenzel did an amazing job with the art - using colors, styles, etc. to portray the cat so differently to different individuals. This would be a great read-aloud! It has enough repetition to engage the audience's familiarity while drawing them forward to see what's next.
Happy Dreamer
by Peter H. Reynolds
Scott County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
This one is lovely, but it didn't really wow me . . . and I'm not sure why. I gave it four of five stars. It has a great, positive message. The artwork is lovely. I made a note to check out his website.
Scott County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
This one is lovely, but it didn't really wow me . . . and I'm not sure why. I gave it four of five stars. It has a great, positive message. The artwork is lovely. I made a note to check out his website.
Punk Skunks
by Trisha Speed Shaskan, illustrated by Stephen Shaskan
Hennepin County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
My favorite thing about this book is that the author/illustrator wife/husband team are from Minneapolis. The story itself wasn't as enjoyable as some of the other picture books on this summer's list. Since I haven't had my own "littles" for a long time (my "baby" is 25 years old and engaged to be married), I am not aware of current popular titles. A few years back, when I heard about Fancy Nancy, I was clueless. Are the Punk Skunks the latest craze? I guess so. I gave it three of five stars.
Hennepin County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
My favorite thing about this book is that the author/illustrator wife/husband team are from Minneapolis. The story itself wasn't as enjoyable as some of the other picture books on this summer's list. Since I haven't had my own "littles" for a long time (my "baby" is 25 years old and engaged to be married), I am not aware of current popular titles. A few years back, when I heard about Fancy Nancy, I was clueless. Are the Punk Skunks the latest craze? I guess so. I gave it three of five stars.
There Might Be Lobsters
by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Laurel Molk
Hennepin County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
This was so sweet! A small pup named Sukie is frightened of everything at the beach. There was nice repetition in the text, but not overdone. Saving her toy monkey Chunka Munka helps Sukie overcome her fears. I gave it four of five stars.
Hennepin County Library hardcover picture book
genre: "Everybody" picture book
This was so sweet! A small pup named Sukie is frightened of everything at the beach. There was nice repetition in the text, but not overdone. Saving her toy monkey Chunka Munka helps Sukie overcome her fears. I gave it four of five stars.
Blue Diary
by Alice Hoffman
loan from Kathy Kendall, paperback, 283 pages
genre: realistic fiction
This book made me sad . . . it starts with a husband and wife making love instead of going to work, and ends with dozens of lives being shattered. I don't want to spoil it for other readers, so I'll just make notes on the pages I post-it noted and let you decide for yourself! (The writing is quite good; I just didn't love the story.)
Page 22-23 Neighbor girl Kat - "Maybe that's because everybody was crying at my father's funeral except for me. When you do things like that, when you stand there and shut your mind until all you can hear is the humming of bees, people think you don't have any feelings. They think what they see is what you feel deep inside." This struck a chord with me because I have to remind myself that I don't know what people are thinking or feeling based on what I see. Just because I am extremely expressive (for good or for ill), that doesn't mean others will (or should) broadcast their feelings.
Page 130 - When we learn about the horrible thing that happened, we also learn about the victim. "He saw her diary, there beside her bed, and the key, which was strung on a blue ribbon." I'm always curious about titles of books and their origins. Since this was the first mention of a diary in the book, I marked it. And page 203, the next one I marked, brings it up again. I was pleasantly surprised (but also saddened) by the character James, victim Rachel's brother.
Page 213 - Kat again - "Some people needed saving, and I was beginning to realize that Rosarie was among them. That night I stayed awake, thinking of how I could set things right." A twelve-year-old shouldn't have to protect her older, wild sister, but I ended up changing from dislike for Kat to appreciating her.
Page 215 - I love librarian Grace Henley! She is wise, caring, observant, and sensitive to the lives of her patrons. Just as a librarian should be!
Page 223 - The diary again, this time in Jorie's hands. "Every time she sees it, she is reminded of hos some things are never over; they stay with you until they're a part of you, like it or not." Yep. I can relate to that one!
Page 240-1 Small town judgmentalism . . . also makes me sad. People make assumptions about Jorie and justify their attitudes. Sad, but also sadly true to life.
One thing that did bother me about Hoffman's writing was that chapters often switched to a new point of view, but it took a while to figure out whose it was. A small bit of cognitive dissonance, but I skipped ahead to figure out whose perspective, then went back and started the chapter knowing whose "voice" I was hearing.
loan from Kathy Kendall, paperback, 283 pages
genre: realistic fiction
This book made me sad . . . it starts with a husband and wife making love instead of going to work, and ends with dozens of lives being shattered. I don't want to spoil it for other readers, so I'll just make notes on the pages I post-it noted and let you decide for yourself! (The writing is quite good; I just didn't love the story.)
Page 22-23 Neighbor girl Kat - "Maybe that's because everybody was crying at my father's funeral except for me. When you do things like that, when you stand there and shut your mind until all you can hear is the humming of bees, people think you don't have any feelings. They think what they see is what you feel deep inside." This struck a chord with me because I have to remind myself that I don't know what people are thinking or feeling based on what I see. Just because I am extremely expressive (for good or for ill), that doesn't mean others will (or should) broadcast their feelings.
Page 130 - When we learn about the horrible thing that happened, we also learn about the victim. "He saw her diary, there beside her bed, and the key, which was strung on a blue ribbon." I'm always curious about titles of books and their origins. Since this was the first mention of a diary in the book, I marked it. And page 203, the next one I marked, brings it up again. I was pleasantly surprised (but also saddened) by the character James, victim Rachel's brother.
Page 213 - Kat again - "Some people needed saving, and I was beginning to realize that Rosarie was among them. That night I stayed awake, thinking of how I could set things right." A twelve-year-old shouldn't have to protect her older, wild sister, but I ended up changing from dislike for Kat to appreciating her.
Page 215 - I love librarian Grace Henley! She is wise, caring, observant, and sensitive to the lives of her patrons. Just as a librarian should be!
Page 223 - The diary again, this time in Jorie's hands. "Every time she sees it, she is reminded of hos some things are never over; they stay with you until they're a part of you, like it or not." Yep. I can relate to that one!
Page 240-1 Small town judgmentalism . . . also makes me sad. People make assumptions about Jorie and justify their attitudes. Sad, but also sadly true to life.
One thing that did bother me about Hoffman's writing was that chapters often switched to a new point of view, but it took a while to figure out whose it was. A small bit of cognitive dissonance, but I skipped ahead to figure out whose perspective, then went back and started the chapter knowing whose "voice" I was hearing.
Wednesday, July 05, 2017
The Ringmaster's Wife
by Kristy Cambron
Hennepin County Library paperback 340 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
Based on real-life John and Mable Ringling and their protégés Colin Keary and Lady Rosamund Easling (fictional), this was a story set in the early 1900s in the circus world. I liked, but didn't love it. I wish I'd been at the book club discussion last week. The book is mostly about Mable and Rosamund and living your dream. It didn't resonate for me . . . and I'm not sure why. I didn't care deeply about any of the characters. I'm not sure if I can even pick a favorite. Perhaps Rosamund's dead brother Hendrik . . .
page 76 - "She'd always spoken from the heart with those whom she loved, and Sally was dear to her. . . . . 'And I certainly don't think that marrying for money is the same as marrying for love.'" Amen, Mable! Speak the truth in love; that's very Scriptural.
pages 156-7 The scene when Mable visits Sally in the hospital on her wedding day . . . that was beautiful. Probably my favorite scene in the entire book. I love when she described the day they met! "I was transfixed - an Ohio farm girl who walked into a Chicago club looking for a job, and instead was taken half-way round the world by a friend's gift of song."
page 226 - The warning bells went off for me like in a slasher movie when the music gets creepy! This was the highest point of suspense for me . . . and it fell flat. Bella coercing Rosamund to her tent with the costume story.
page 299 - "They all had one thing in common: faith that when one has no control, there is One who does. It was comforting that God had sent John Ringling at a time in her life when Mable had really needed him." This made me wonder about the line between fact and fiction. Were the Ringlings Christian? Did they have a strong faith in God?
page 330 - "It wasn't in the initial faith leap to chase a dream; rather, the magic was in the day-to-day living and breathing and choosing to be courageous when common sense told one otherwise." I like the idea that the daily life of a person says a lot more about them than bold, momentous decisions.
I hope I didn't ruin this book for anyone else. Sometimes titles just don't resonate for me . . . and I love hearing others' points of view! So sorry I missed book club.
Hennepin County Library paperback 340 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
Based on real-life John and Mable Ringling and their protégés Colin Keary and Lady Rosamund Easling (fictional), this was a story set in the early 1900s in the circus world. I liked, but didn't love it. I wish I'd been at the book club discussion last week. The book is mostly about Mable and Rosamund and living your dream. It didn't resonate for me . . . and I'm not sure why. I didn't care deeply about any of the characters. I'm not sure if I can even pick a favorite. Perhaps Rosamund's dead brother Hendrik . . .
page 76 - "She'd always spoken from the heart with those whom she loved, and Sally was dear to her. . . . . 'And I certainly don't think that marrying for money is the same as marrying for love.'" Amen, Mable! Speak the truth in love; that's very Scriptural.
pages 156-7 The scene when Mable visits Sally in the hospital on her wedding day . . . that was beautiful. Probably my favorite scene in the entire book. I love when she described the day they met! "I was transfixed - an Ohio farm girl who walked into a Chicago club looking for a job, and instead was taken half-way round the world by a friend's gift of song."
page 226 - The warning bells went off for me like in a slasher movie when the music gets creepy! This was the highest point of suspense for me . . . and it fell flat. Bella coercing Rosamund to her tent with the costume story.
page 299 - "They all had one thing in common: faith that when one has no control, there is One who does. It was comforting that God had sent John Ringling at a time in her life when Mable had really needed him." This made me wonder about the line between fact and fiction. Were the Ringlings Christian? Did they have a strong faith in God?
page 330 - "It wasn't in the initial faith leap to chase a dream; rather, the magic was in the day-to-day living and breathing and choosing to be courageous when common sense told one otherwise." I like the idea that the daily life of a person says a lot more about them than bold, momentous decisions.
I hope I didn't ruin this book for anyone else. Sometimes titles just don't resonate for me . . . and I love hearing others' points of view! So sorry I missed book club.
The Summer of the Pike
by Jutta Richter,
translated by Anna Brailovsky
PRMS deleted hardcover 92 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
This book was so sad! The mom of Daniel and Lucas has cancer. Their friend Anna's dad left and her mom is not affectionate. The adults don't want the kids to know about the cancer. . . (always frustrates me! The kids are clearly aware that something is wrong! Why not talk in an honest and age-appropriate way about what is happening?!)
page 37 - kids are doubting God's existence. They compare him to Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, which their parents encouraged them to believe and they later found was a complete lie. This is a pet peeve for me.
page 53 - Anna's mom is so unfeeling! She doesn't even want to hug her daughter. Anna overheard her saying she wished she'd had a son.
page 70 - Anna missing her dad. "I don't believe I ever longed for my father more than I did that evening." So sad . . .
translated by Anna Brailovsky
PRMS deleted hardcover 92 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
This book was so sad! The mom of Daniel and Lucas has cancer. Their friend Anna's dad left and her mom is not affectionate. The adults don't want the kids to know about the cancer. . . (always frustrates me! The kids are clearly aware that something is wrong! Why not talk in an honest and age-appropriate way about what is happening?!)
page 37 - kids are doubting God's existence. They compare him to Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, which their parents encouraged them to believe and they later found was a complete lie. This is a pet peeve for me.
page 53 - Anna's mom is so unfeeling! She doesn't even want to hug her daughter. Anna overheard her saying she wished she'd had a son.
page 70 - Anna missing her dad. "I don't believe I ever longed for my father more than I did that evening." So sad . . .
The Great Brain Is Back
by John D. Fitzgerald
Illustrated by Diane deGroat
PRMS deleted hardcover 120 pages
genre: YA historical fiction, humor
This is book number eight in the Great Brain series, published by the author's family posthumously. I used to love these books so much when I was young! They were like "young Tom Sawyer" stories. But now, I just dislike Tom's "swindles" and arrogance about his "great brain" and I cringe at John's susceptibility. The dog fighting story and resolution were totally unrealistic. The smoking to ward off females story was cute. When I ordered these for school, I wanted the entire set but got 1,2,3, and 8. They never got checked out . . .
Illustrated by Diane deGroat
PRMS deleted hardcover 120 pages
genre: YA historical fiction, humor
This is book number eight in the Great Brain series, published by the author's family posthumously. I used to love these books so much when I was young! They were like "young Tom Sawyer" stories. But now, I just dislike Tom's "swindles" and arrogance about his "great brain" and I cringe at John's susceptibility. The dog fighting story and resolution were totally unrealistic. The smoking to ward off females story was cute. When I ordered these for school, I wanted the entire set but got 1,2,3, and 8. They never got checked out . . .
Light on Snow
by Anita Shreve
loaned by Melanie Wegner paperback 305 pages
genre: realistic fiction
A grieving widower and his 12-year-old daughter find an abandoned newborn on a snowy day. Saving the baby's life is meaningful for the girl who lost her mother and one-year-old sister a few years earlier. This book had a lot of potential and some lovely writing, but fell short for me.
page 114 - loved the scene where Nicky describes her love for knitting resonated for me (though I don't knit). "It's addictive and it's soothing, and for a few minutes anyway, it makes me feel closer to my mother." This made me think of some of my friends who are knitters and have trouble *not* knitting!
page 218 - Nicky is thinking of her little sister. "The idea of giving up a baby - never mind leaving it to die - is incomprehensible to me. I can't imagine it. Wouldn't it just hurt your whole life, just like losing Clara always hurts me even if I don't think about it every second? It's why I've had to create the idea of Clara still growing, still alive. It's where I send my thoughts whenever I start to think about her."
page 268 - When Nicky gets her period and wants her dad to know but doesn't want to tell him. "I hope it doesn't make him sad, sad for my mother who is not here to see me reach this milestone. I have had enough sadness to last a lifetime."
I'm not sure why Melanie wanted me to borrow and read her books (or why I felt obligated to follow through with it) but I'm ready to return them to her and move on to some of my other books!
loaned by Melanie Wegner paperback 305 pages
genre: realistic fiction
A grieving widower and his 12-year-old daughter find an abandoned newborn on a snowy day. Saving the baby's life is meaningful for the girl who lost her mother and one-year-old sister a few years earlier. This book had a lot of potential and some lovely writing, but fell short for me.
page 114 - loved the scene where Nicky describes her love for knitting resonated for me (though I don't knit). "It's addictive and it's soothing, and for a few minutes anyway, it makes me feel closer to my mother." This made me think of some of my friends who are knitters and have trouble *not* knitting!
page 218 - Nicky is thinking of her little sister. "The idea of giving up a baby - never mind leaving it to die - is incomprehensible to me. I can't imagine it. Wouldn't it just hurt your whole life, just like losing Clara always hurts me even if I don't think about it every second? It's why I've had to create the idea of Clara still growing, still alive. It's where I send my thoughts whenever I start to think about her."
page 268 - When Nicky gets her period and wants her dad to know but doesn't want to tell him. "I hope it doesn't make him sad, sad for my mother who is not here to see me reach this milestone. I have had enough sadness to last a lifetime."
I'm not sure why Melanie wanted me to borrow and read her books (or why I felt obligated to follow through with it) but I'm ready to return them to her and move on to some of my other books!
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