Since I Fell for Buyea

I have been a loyal fan and a very happy reader (listener) when Robert Buyea comes out with a new book.  I was super glad to see a second book with the characters from The Perfect Score and I hope there is another yet to come because The Perfect Secret was another great one, with real kids in real situations.  And this one addressed very timely issues.  Now that Andrew Clements has gone to his reward, it is even more important to have writers like Buyea who can preach without preaching and develop middle school characters who speak with authenticity. 

When I was twelve years old, my daddy took me to the circus

Peggy Lee sang about a circus in Is That All There Is.  What a song.  What a song.  Secrets of the Circus is the fifth installment of The Three Ring Rascals series by Kate and M. Sarah Klise.  I do hope these sisters will keep writing together.  I am hopeful for another series, and that they will keep this one up for a few more, as it is still as fresh and fun as the first.
There is a part in here that I loved:  "Your secret strength is what you were born to do,"  said Sir Sidney.  "You'll know you've found it when you're doing something that makes the world a better place."  It reminds me of the "find what makes you fly" part in Half a World Away.  It also makes me wish that I could find my secret strength!  Although I REALLY do make a great left-hand turn.  And I have been told that is hard to do in Pittsburgh.

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.

Was it Just

that I didn't like the character?  I gave My Life Before Me only 3 of 5 stars.  I really didn't like Cady.  All of the girls had the same problem, but Cady just was a jerk.  In my opinion.  She was very realistic!  Her journey took her to the United States, to the state of Indiana, where racism is rampant, just like in the south.  I can't tell if Cady is as miserable and uncaring about her birth parents as she seems to be or if it is a defense mechanism.  Either way, this was my least favorite one, but still glad I read it.

British Accents

Here is a warning for those of you who aren't really into British accents for their audiobooks, if you download one of the Secrets book to listen to, you will hear a British accent, but don't worry! That is just the intro lady!  Stones on a Grave was a book I downloaded a long time ago, but I heard the intro in the British accent and so I didn't listen to it!  I could have enjoyed these books much earlier!
Stones on a Grave was really, really good.  This one is set mostly in Germany.  I can't remember which city.
When her orphanage is burned down, Sara gets her clue to her past that takes her to Germany.
I learned things about WW2 that I didn't know before, not that I knew a lot, but I knew a good amount, still there was new stuff here.  I am embarrassed to say that I never knew about the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.

Now that

I made that statement about my favorite Secrets book so far, as I think about Innocent, maybe IT is my favorite one!  Can you tell I just really, really like this series!
This one had me guessing for a while.  It has murder and passion and intrigue!  It is set in Kingston, Ontario.

Now that the secrets are out...

I have to say that Shattered Glass was probably my favorite.  Maybe.  Yes, I think it was.   Or maybe the first one I read, The Unquiet Past.  This is Toni's story and it is so sad and so real and so good.  This one is set in Toronto.  Toni is a sweet and innocent girl, it seems to me.  There is a lot of humor in this one.  And there is a good look at adults who live on the seamer side of life.   Heartbreaking book, too.

The Third Secret

I read was A Big Dose of Lucky.  I am not sure why it is called this. Regardless, I liked it a lot and don't feel burned out on the series.  This is such a good idea, a series, written by different authors, each the story of a girl who lived in a orphanage since birth.  When the orphanage burns down, each is given what little information there is about their birth family and set off to find their way in the world.  The girls are all 16 and 17 years old.  There are seven of them.
Each book is set in 1964 in Canada, so far.  That is where the orphanage was. I can't remember what part of Canada.  But in ABDOL, Maulou's clue takes her to Parry Sound, Ontario.  She is the only dark-skinned girl of the seven and the racism that she encounters is horrifying.  I am a total fool, I guess.  I never knew that racism was as blatant in Canada as it was/is in the United States.

The Second Secret

that I read anyway...Small Bones was just as good as the first one I read.  I don't know if the Secrets series has an order, but it didn't seem like there were any spoilers or anything, reading this one second.
This story is Dot's.  Her journey to find her birth family, given the little bit of information that the orphanage was able to give her after the home burned down.  In Dot's case, all she has is a coat that was left with her when she was left on the doorstep of the Benevolent Home for Necessitous Girls.  Totally liked it!

Secret Series

The Unquiet Past is a book in the Secrets series, but I didn't know that until I went to write this post.  I am super excited because I really enjoyed The Unquiet Past!  It is set in 1964, though it seems like it could have been set at any time, really, and so if you are thinking, "I hate books set in the past,"  the past doesn't really make must of a difference here.
Well, not the past as in the settting, but the past is a big part of The Quiet Past.
Tess great up in an orphanage and has always wondered about her mother.  When the orphanage burns down a bit before she turns 18, she and the other girls who are almost 18 are set free.  Each are given any information that the orphanage has about their birth families.  The whole series is about each girl finding her own history.
Tess' journey takes her into the world of immoral medical practices and mental illness.  Good, good book!