The Ballad of Lucy Whipple

by Karen Cushman

Libby audiobook 5 hours

Read by Christina Moore

Published: 1996 (this version 1997)

Genre: YA historical fiction

I can't believe I've never blogged this story, either! I just checked my old Excel sheet and found nothing.

I remember the first time I read this (in print) and I sobbed at a sad part. I laughed at Lucy's brother learning all the different words for alcohol. There are both surface things and deep things to enjoy in this story.

Lucy "California" Whipple has gone west with her mother, brother, and two little sisters during the 1850s. Her mother will start a boarding house in Lucky Diggins while they figure out life without Pa and two sisters who have died.

Lucy just wants to go home to Massachusetts. I really like Cushman's writing. This is a wonderful book.

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

Libby audiobook 12 hours

Read by Kate Kellgren

Published: 1813 (this version 2010)

Genre: historical fiction, romance

 

I can't believe I've never blogged this book before! It's one of my favorites. Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy are so delightful. I have so many favorite scenes. This audiobook was sheer pleasure to listen to (except for Mr. Collins' long-winded obnoxiousness, of course). 

 

I love Keira Knightley in the 2005 film version (and most of the rest of the cast). But Colin Firth in the 1995 television series is an amazing Mr. Darcy. Ahh. I could rewatch, relisten, and reread again and again. But I have so many other books right now! 

I just went to my old Excel spreadsheet of reading response and found this:

Pride and Prejudice

Austen, Jane

4/26/07

Love story from the 1800s. Who was more prideful - Elizabeth Bennett or Mr. Darcy? 

 I love this story! The movie version with Keira Knightley was my first experience with Jane Austen's work. The language, manners, and social conventions are so different from our age, but it's a wonderful love story nonetheless.

 

 

Wow! I didn't realize I hadn't read Austen before watching the movie back in 2007! Memory can be deceptive . . . 

CD / Carver County / unabridged / approx. 16 hours

May, Nadia - beautiful British accent, but she sounded too old for the young characters. . .

Les Trois Petits Cochons

 by Anonymous (fairy tale, oral traditions)

Narrator: Olivier Lecerf

Libby audiobook 5 minutes

Published (this version) 2011

Genre: Children's fiction, French

Again, I had to listen multiple times to get more than a few isolated words. I also had to slow it down a LOT.

I finally got to the point where I understood the wolf's threat to "huff and puff and blow your house down" and also when he "mangez le cochon" (eat the pig). 

I like listening to the French and trying to understand words and phrases better, but I'm surprised at how hard this is!

Le Petit Monde de Pierre Lapin

by Beatrix Potter

Translated by Erik Bjork

Read by Erik Bjork

Libby audiobook 49 minutes

Published: 1901 . . . 2016 this version

Genre: Children's fiction, French

I only listened to the first story (The Tale of Peter Rabbit). There are seven of Beatrix Potter's books on this! It was only 5:42 of the full 49 minutes.

The first time I listened, I only caught isolated words - "jardin" (garden), "lui dit" (he said), etc.

The second time I listened, I slowed it down to about 85% and could understand a bit more.

The third time, I followed along with the print version (in English) and I could more clearly understand some of the French. My language skills have really gotten weak!

L'histoire de Pierre Lapin was delightful!

Mabuhay!

by Zachary Sterling

Scott County Library paperback 229 pages

Published: 2023

Genre: YA graphic novel

 

I saw this showcased at the Scholastic Book Fair at NPMS and was curious. I love graphic novels! This one has the tagline "Can two kids save the world and still work their family food truck?" 

JJ is the older brother who wants to be part of the cool crowd. He's embarrassed by his weird family and having to wear the "beautiful pig" costume at their food truck stops. Althea is younger and loves horror films. She loves being weird and is pretty angry that her former best friends have changed so much and now avoid her. She can be downright hostile.

A strange person turns up at their food truck one day and pays with an ancient Filipino coin. She is a witch and she is determined to get back the kids' mother who has a powerful relic. There's a lot of mythology, magic, and superhero style fighting. There's also a lot of Filipino food and culture in this book (with footnotes and a glossary). 

My favorite part was when Althea became attached to Juan and Pinya. So sweet! It's a delightful book that I would gladly purchase for a middle school collection (if I were still a librarian).

The Wings of Poppy Pendleton

by Melanie Dobson

Scott County Library paperback 326 pages plus author's note, discussion questions, and acknowledgements

Published: 2023

Genre: Christian historical fiction

With chapters focusing on Chloe in 1992 and Amelia Pendleton in 1907, this book has a lot of mysteries for the reader to figure out. I ended up grabbing scrap paper to make notes about the timeline as I tried to connect the dots. I thought about taking a picture and including it here, but I'm too lazy! (Plus, it has spoilers on it . . . ) Reader hint: you may want to make your own timeline with major events and characters' ages.

I missed book club discussion last week because I wasn't finished reading and didn't want the mysteries solved for me! I didn't fall in love with this book and I'm not sure why. My favorite character was Logan. I liked the islands, the boats, the castle, the candy store, and the ending. 

Page 186: "No one knew what went on sometimes in families. The good and the bad. No one could possibly understand except those who had lived through it."

 

This struck me! Some people act as though everything is fine when it's not; others overdramatize their experience and create trauma that didn't happen. ALL of us have experienced unique things in our family history that can't necessarily be explained. Life is meant to be lived. 

Page 204: "While Chloe's earthly father might have failed, Nana liked to say, her heavenly Father would never fail her. Instead of scattering the pieces of her life, God would help her mold them into something good."

 

For people who DO have disappointing fathers, I think it's so wonderful to know that God is our perfect heavenly father who loves us unconditionally.

Page 212: "Chloe glanced down at Joe's colorful tackle box, still partially filled with candy. She wanted to bring joy to people, but too much of anything could hurt. How did one enjoy the simple pleasures without being consumed?"

 

I'm not sure if the author was comparing candy to opium . . . but it is an interesting conversation to talk about pleasures and what our role is in being faithful to God. Seeking holiness is not about making sure you get your own needs and wants met!

Page 238: "'We have that in common then. I like words and stories and uncovering the mysteries in this life, whether made by man or God Himself."

 

It took Chloe way too long to actually like Logan! I'm also a person who likes words and stories.

Page 268: "The lie of Poppy Pendleton had been erased, and a new reality had been born. She'd never tell Birdie what happened back in England or on Koster Isle. Instead, Birdie would live free from any worry of becoming like her mother and grandmother or Sarah, for that matter. And neither of them would have to worry if Ellie defied the registrar after the accident, like Sarah had done, and was searching for them both."

I'm honestly not sure why I tagged this. I guess because I don't like secrets. I'm a firm believer in telling the truth! I mean, it worked out well for Birdie . . . but I still think truth is best.

I didn't write about all the bird imagery or the human trafficking or the high society stuff . . . there's a lot in this book!

Page 286: "'God is good,' he said, his eyes on the rain-soaked window. 'I'm just trying to partner with Him.'"

The Hunger Between Us

by Marina Scott

Libby audiobook 8 hours

read by Julia Emelin

Published: 2022

Genre: YA historical fiction WWII Soviet Union

This review WILL have spoilers, so stop now if you don't want the story ruined. Here's a blurb from Amazon: "There are some lines that should never be crossed―even in a city ruled by hunger. The black market is Liza’s lifeline, where she barters family heirlooms and steals whatever she can get her hands on just for enough food to survive. Morality, after all, has become a fluid thing since the Nazi siege has cut off her city from the rest of the world. Hope for a quick liberation is obliterated as the Soviet government focuses on sustaining the Red Army and not the city, subjecting its people to unimaginable cruelties at the hands of the secret police. When Liza’s best friend Aka proposes that they go to the same bullying officials, rumored to give young women food in exchange for “entertainment,” Liza thinks there surely must be some other way. Then Aka disappears and Liza resolves to rescue her no matter the cost, entangling herself in an increasingly dangerous web with two former classmates, one a policeman, the other forced to live underground."

 

Things I appreciate about this story:

• the severity of starvation's effect on people was very realistic
• that moral ambiguity that comes with having a survival mentality . . . again, believable
• both Maxim and Luka (?) are amazing young men 
• the narrator sounded very Russian! Halting phrasing, accent, . . . perfect
  
• reading about the author, this is her debut novel. Good job! (And she grew up behind the Iron Curtain!)
  
• Who was worse for the Russian people - the German Nazis or the NKVD (Russian secret police)? Again, the horrors of starving to death were very realistic.
  

What I didn't appreciate:

• what a jerk Liza could be at times! She was not willing to trust either Luka or Maxim, even though neither one DID anything to make her believe they were untrustworthy. Fine. Be suspicious. But to lie and behave selfishly when it endangers others is reprehensible!
• chucking the pot of stew onto the ground because you think the "meat" is human . . . when people are starving to DEATH . . . is unconscionable. Don't eat it. Walk away. Throwing the soup on the ground isn't going to bring back the dead people!
• Also, when she kept wandering around the Mansion to look for Aka . . . how stupid can you be? Don't mess with the secret police in their own lair!
  
• Seriously, it took until chapter 19 to reveal who the creepy dude at the apartment really is? Gaganov (?) seemed like an awful man who had done something inexcusable. Liza avoided him like the plague. Then we find out he's her dad?!? And the horrible thing he did was suggest selling dead bodies so they could survive? Then she's all "Daddy" and talking to him. What?!?
• Okay, it gets worse when we find out that he basically sold her best friend Aka for food . . . and kept her necklace and shirt. Super creepy awful.
• The number of times Liza said she had no choice or "what choice do I have?" bothered me. There are ALWAYS choices! Some of them may be horrific, but you can choose what you think, say, and do.

I like Ruta Sepetys' books better. Her WWII Soviet book is called Between Shades of Gray. I highly recommend it!