It's Not that Easy

Do you remember this song?  Man...that was a good one...Here in the Real World was an even better book.  Ah...the characters were so well crafted and the whole thing...just so well done.  I loved this one.  Endearing, without being shmaltzy.

Really Different

Courtney Summers has written a great book in Sadie and has told it in a unique way, as the book alternates between Sadie's POV and a podcast like Serial.  She has told it so well that the idea of book told at least in part as a podcast doesn't come across as a gimmick or cheesy.  And because of the nature of podcasts, this book was just meant for audio and so really enjoyed the listen.  I got so caught up in it that it was one of those books that I had to listen to the end and then go back just because the suspense was killing me. 

Stick with it

The Boy at the Keyhole was hard for me to get into and that is the only reason why I gave it four stars, but the thing is, it might just have been that I didn't like the accent of the narrator, me having such aversion to British accents.  This book is well worth it though.  What an ending!

Are Hurricane Children a Thing?

I need to google that.  Hang on.  Not that I can see from a quick google.  But It is early/late and I am tired so I will look again another day. 
Hurricane Child was a beautiful book.  About all kinds of love.  It was a love story on so many levels.  Kheryn Callender is an author I need to learn more about because this book was beautiful. 

REALLY good

I was so glad that my turn for Where the Line Bleeds finally came up from the library.  Man.  This book was just excellent.  Jesmyn Ward is just such an incredible writer.  This story unfolds so so so well and just sucked me in and really speaks volumes about the "land of opportunity" that is our country.  And man, it is even worse now than when this was written!   What a book. 

The Big Seven

There are Seven Deadly Sins, right?  The Seven Ways We Lie is about them.  Seven high school kids, each identifying with one of the sins. The father of my dear friend (he is my friend, too!) is in the middle of a Lenten preaching series at his church, doing a sin a week and he has been sending them to me and they are amazing!  You can check them out here. 
I loved the movie Se7en.  I mean if it is okay to love a movie like that.  I really found it....what is the right word?  Riveting?  Yeah. 
This book?  Not a 5, but a 4.  But I would recommend it! 

Katherine How Great Thou Art

I like the way that that Quakers talk in Lyddie.  I really liked Lyddie.  But that is not surprising, knowing the author is Katherine Paterson.  There are some very funny lines in Lyddie.  And the power of reading is subtly shown here.  This takes place in Lowell, MA and there still in an area in Lowell known as The Acre.  Bette Davis was born there, in Lowell. There is a lot to learn here.  And just an excellent story to enjoy. 

Before and After

The Ethan I was Before has a great cover and a great title and it really is a great book.  I just thought that the end dragged just a wee-wee bit with the fox cubs.  The fox cubs were the only thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me, but I get why they were important.  This was an incredibly powerful book.  If there could have been some other way to work in heroism/sacrifice by Coralee, for me, this would have been one of the best books I read all year.  Highly recommended, but the foxes just took a lot a way for me. 

Katherine the Great

Paterson that is.  And she is.  And The Great Gilly Hopkins is one that I wish I would have read earlier, but am glad I didn't because now I got to enjoy it!  I am really excited because Katherine Paterson is coming to town and while I won't be able to see her here, the middle school in the community in which I work is having a Skype visit with her the next day!  I am so super-excited.  This book was one of those tremendously moving ones, that makes one laugh and cry.  And then ending...well, it wasn't what I thought it would be, or even what I hoped for, but wow, it was perfect. 

Yeah...

I wasn't feeling One Amazing Elephant.  I was feeling some parts of it.  I liked the way in which the whole mother-daughter thing was addressed.  I just...I don't know.  It was a little too The One and Only Ivan for me.   I did like the alternating viewpoints, between the elephant and Lily but I think that one of the big reasons I like that was because the elephant's chapters were so short and I just wanted the book to move along quickly!  But I was reading this one and again, that is hard for me, so that probably took away a lot of my enjoyment of it.  I didn't like that the bad guys were all smokers.  I am not a smoker any more, but I do think that smokers get a bad rap.  I mean, smoking IS bad for one!  But not all smokers are evil.  In fact, I think all of the smokers I know are super kind people!  So it was hard to see that the bad guys were all smokers.  I just don't think this has Newbery power.  I would have given it 3 and 1/2 stars though, if 1/2 stars were allowed.

Is it just the name?

Once I knew this woman who was really into Mother-Daughter book clubs.  I have to say that this is one woman I have a hard time thinking about because she was someone who pretty much defines the whole "wolf in sheep's clothing" thing!  So I am not sure if that is why I was so against reading a book in the series The Mother-Daughter Book Club.  I can't remember if she actually liked the series, or I just associate all things MDBC with her!  I also wonder if my lower rating of the book has something to do with that.  But I don't know.  I mean, it was okay, and 3 of 5 stars isn't a bad rating at all, it is just low for me.  I think to be fair to the series, I will read another though!

2.5 SPOILERS, kinda.

I really always feel bad when I give a book less than 3 stars.  I mean, I know that is ridiculous.  But I just feel like I could never write a book that could be published and so who am I to give someone a less than 3, you know?  And sometimes books just aren't my cup of tea and that doesn't make them less-than-4 worthy.  But Baseball Genius was a 3 until the end.  It just ended way too fast for me, you know?  It was chopped off.
I saw Tim Green and Derek Jeter on the CBS Mornings News promoting the book and so that is why I bought it.  Tim Green has a whole bunch of books and I really enjoyed Football Genius.  Derek Jeter has written some kids books, too.  But I have not read those.  I will have to see what they are like!

Jubilee Year

There is something that is niggling in the back of my mind...about a Jubilee Year and what that celebration means.  I think it has something to do with religious orders.  I am going to google.  I mean, I know it means other things, but the aspect that is niggling at me in particular is Jubilee Year as it pertains to religious orders.
Hang on...
Oh it is a BIG thing.  Here it is.
And this BIG thing in the Roman Catholic Church.
And here is the anniversary aspect.
In any case, Jubilee doesn't have anything to do with an anniversary.  But the book is joyful.  And the book is a celebration, even if it is heart-breaking at times.  To borrow an old cliche, it is a celebration of the human spirit.  This girl, Judy (her aunt calls her Jubilee because she is such a joyful celebration to her), she has tons of strength and she is wicked smart.
This is just a really, really powerful and simple and complex story.  I really like Patricia Reilly Giff a whole, whole lot.

Weekend at Louise's

It was good luck that I read Summer of the Gypsy Moths.   After reading Pax and not liking it very much, I didn't know about taking another chance on Sara Pennypacker, but man, I am so glad I did and I hope to read more from her soon.
This was SUCH a different book.  So good.
It is kinda like the movie, Weekend at Bernie's, which I have not seen, but everyone knows the premise, right?
It is also the story of families, all kinds of families and finding a place to belong and forgiveness and acceptance.  Just a beautiful book.  Quirky, for sure!  I mean, if it is like WAB, it has to be, right?  But just a great, great book.

Lost and Found

The Search for Belle Prater is the sequel to Belle Prater's Boy.  I was so glad to see this available for download.  In it, Woodrow and Gypsy make some new friends who help them in their search for Woodrow's mother.  I liked also, being that the book is set in 1954 that the issue of prejudice and discrimination is addressed when the kids meet Joseph Lincoln, an African American boy who is looking for his father, like Woodrow is looking for his mom.

Belle of the Ball

Belle Ball is a pretty bad name.  I mean, I thought my name was bad.  But Belle Prater had Belle Ball as her name until she married her husband.  Yeah. Belle Ball.
That is neither here nor there!
I have often seen and heard tell of Belle Prater's Boy.
But I had not read it until now.
This is just SUCH a great book.
And it won a Newbery Honor!
This is the story of Gypsy and Woodrow, cousins.  Woodrow is Belle Prater's boy, Belle went missing, just up and left.  And Gypsy's dad died and I won't give away any more about that.  And they are both dealing with the loss of a parent.  And life and rumors in a small town.  And family secrets and just being middle school aged.  They live in the fictional town of Coal Station, VA and White's writing just brings the place to life.  There is also a sequel, The Search for Belle Prater, which I hope to read as well.

Star Dust

Katherine Paterson is magic.
She really is.
The Same Stuff as Stars is another exceptional, heart-touching book from Paterson.
TSSAS is the story of two children, Angel and Bernie.  Angel is eleven, but has had to be much older.  Her father is in prison and her mother is not very reliable.  Bernie is six and she has had to parent him for a long time.  This story is told from the POV of Angel finds herself with her great-grandma and meets "the star man" a man who teaches her about the stars.  This is just a lovely, lovely story.   Very moving.

Because of this Website

Does the Dog Die, I was able to read Because of Winn-Dixie.  Well, reread it.  Because I remember reading it along time ago, but I really didn't want to reread it if Winn-Dixie died.  And while I was pretty sure, almost 99% certain that he didn't, I just wanted to make sure.  I have been struggling through The House of Small Shadows and it has been very depressing and I didn't need anymore depressing right then.
Does the Dog Die is about movies, which I didn't know when I looked at it quickly on my phone but just discovered now.  I just found this on goodreads, so that is another good resource for those of you, who like me, subscribe to the No More Dead Dogs way of life.
This is a great story.  Nowadays it might seem like every other book for kids is about a girl from the south, without a mother or a father or both, but Because of Winn-Dixie was early on, so you can't get mad at it for that.
What I loved most, not surprisingly, was the relationship between India Opal and her dad, whom she just calls, "The Preacher."  I loved that the church her father pastors was welcoming of all, even the stray dog, Winn-Dixie, named after the store.  I LOVED Glory Dump and Otis and Miss Franny Block.  All lovely characters and lovely people.  And they call came together, because of Winn-Dixie.

A Zebra Forest...

Adina Rishe Gewirtz is a brandy new author and Zebra Forest is her first fiction book.  I will most certainly be looking for her next one, as this one really stuck with me.  I bought it to listen to and I'm glad I have it, because I'll want to go back again.  Annie and Rew never live with their grandma, who is a good lady, but sometimes she isn't quite there.  Their mother took off and all Annie remembers is that she said she never really wanted kids.  Grandma has always told Rew and Annie that their dad was killed in a bar fight.  But one day there is a break at the prison just through the zebra-looking forest in their backyard and man shows up, and wouldn't you know, sometimes the dead aren't so dead after all.  Annie tells the story and she is a smart kid, a neat kid.  And so is Rew.  A story of love and family and forgiveness and yeah, just a really great story.