Problems

Ah, the problem of Laurie Halse Anderson.  I really want to like her writing!  I really do!  Everyone does!  Everyone loves Laurie Halse Anderson.  But Wintergirls was the first book I read by her and The Bitter Knife of Memory was the next. I disliked Wintergirls so much, it took me this long to even try another LHA book.  Wintergirls was the first book I ever blogged about and looking back, I can see that I was much meaner back then.  I am embarrassed to read how mean I was!  
Opps.  I wrote this a few days ago, not even realizing that I also have read Twisted.  I am embarrassed.  But I also think that proves my point that I need to either give LHA a rest or try something totally different from her. My dear friend Kara recommended that I try something from her Seeds of America series, saying that it is totally different and I might enjoy them. What was done really well was Anderson' look into the PTSD suffered by Hayley's father because of his experiences fighting in the Iraq War.   

Just Don't Read the SLJ Review!

This is one of those books that makes you thankful you are a reader. Told from three points of view: Mik, a teen with a hearing disability who often shuts off her hearing aids to shut out the world, Fatima, an illegal immigrant teen from an unnamed, war-torn African country and an eighteen-year-old, mentally ill Iraq War vet. They meet and become friends and tragedy strikes. I don't want to say too much more about the The Orange Houses. I sure don't want to be like the reviewer for School Library Journal who gives the ending away. Anyway. This is a must read. It deals with issues from Sweet, Hereafter and the one about Ask Me No Questions. Loved it. Now THIS is an award winner.