Reading For Sanity

Draw the Dark - Ilsa J. Bick

2012-01-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: The things I draw. They tend to die.

There are things the people of Winter, Wisconsin, would rather forget. The year the Nazis came town, for one. That fire, for another. But what they'd really like to forget is Christian Cage.

Seventeen-year-old Christian's parents disappeared when he was a little boy. Ever since, he's drawn obsessively: his mother's face...her eyes...and what he calls "the sideways place," where he says his parents are trapped. Christian figures if he can just see through his mother's eyes, maybe he can get there somehow and save them.

But Christian also draws other things. Ugly things. Evil things. Dark things. Things like other people's fears and nightmares. Their pasts. Their destiny.

There's one more thing the people of Winter would like to forget: murder.

But Winter won't be able to forget the truth, no matter how hard it tries. Not as long as Christian draws the dark... (Summary from book - Image from www.listal.com - Book given free for an honest review from www.netgalley.com )

My Review: Draw the Dark tells the dark, intense, and deliciously creepy tale of Christian Cage, a young artist harrowed by the loss of his parents and plagued by nightmares and hallucinations that seem to have waking consequences. When Christian is accused of an act of vandalism that occurred while he was sleeping, all other evidence points to his guilt, and he is sentenced to community service at a local nursing home. But death and trouble always seem to follow Christian, and the people of Winter are understandably suspicious, especially given his murky past. As time goes by, his dreams bleed into reality and Christian uncovers a psychological connection to the past, to a young boy, and to a murder that happened well before he was born.

Normally, I’m not a fan of the mystery/thriller genre. My aversion to them probably has something to do with the reason I stopped watching CSI – I just don’t need know any more creative ways to kill someone. However, once I got a chance to actually sit down and devote some time to this chilling psychological thriller, I was hooked by the nature of Christian’s mysterious abilities (which are difficult to explain, but very intriguing), the history of the town, and a the whodunit of a sinister murder.

While I was intrigued by the premise of this book, absorbed by the mystery, and I’m glad I gave it a chance, the ending (approx. the last fifth of the book) didn’t live up to my expectations. Frankly, I was decidedly underwhelmed by the big reveal at the end, which got a little weird and somewhat confusing. It was also more graphic than I expected, in both language and violence, and reminded me why I don’t normally read this genre.

For the sensitive reader: Pervasive profanity, some crass language, graphic violence, and one sexual situation (seen briefly in a dream). One character has a particular affection for the F-word, and a variety of others are batted around with alarming frequency.

My Rating: 3.25 Stars

Sum it up: A dark, intriguing, intense (and GRAPHIC) thriller.

One for the Money - Janet Evanovich

2012-01-27T07:00:00.001-08:00

Also reviewed by Heather.

Summary: Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash -- fast -- but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family...

Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress, to the time he first got into her pants, to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water -- wanted for murder...

Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight -- and keeps herself from getting killed before she gets her man... (Summary from book - Image from www.bestsellers.about.com )

My Review: Stephanie Plum is in deep doo. She’s lost her job, pawned all her furniture, and still her phone has been cut off and her car is seconds away from being repossessed. No, wait! Yup…there it goes. To avoid eviction or *gasp* living with her parents, Stephanie jumps at the chance to catch bail-jumpers for her cousin Vinnie. Soon she’s hot on the trail of former lover Joseph Morelli, a local cop wanted for murder, and money becomes the least of her problems because, while Stephanie is tracking down Morelli, a sadisitic rapist is targeting her.

To be clear, I didn’t make it more than two pages in to One for the Money before I checked it off the list of books I can recommend to my mother and quite a few of my friends. Readers bothered by profanity, suggestive dialogue, and mildly sexual situations should probably just find something else to read or opt for the PG-13 movie version.**

Now, questionable content aside, I thought this book was humorous and entertaining. It’s the first in very long series of humorous crime novels that feature female bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. In One for the Money, Plum and her old flame/nemesis, Joseph Morelli, have plenty of chemistry in spite of their smouldering hate-love-hate relationship and the banter between them was highly amusing. When Stephanie begins to suspect that Morelli might be innocent, their relationship becomes even more complicated and life gets a lot more dangerous.

I read this book cover to cover in an afternoon – one where my husband was watching the kids and my bedroom door was locked (Psssst….thanks babe!). Okay, so I figured out the bad guy right around the time things started exploding, and that made the standard monologue-where-bad-guy-explains-why-he-did-what-he-did less surprising, but I still finished this book with every intention of picking up Two for the Dough the next time I see it laying around.

**Honestly, I’m pretty excited to see the movie myself, because I think it will be hysterical and at least a little "cleaner” than the book. There has to be less F-words. By law. Here’s the trailer, for those of you who’d like a peek. One for the Money hits the big screen January 27,2011 (aka today).

My Rating: 3.5 Stars.

For the sensitive reader: Probably not for readers even remotely sensitive to language or sexually suggestive dialogue.

Sum it up: Wildly inappropriate for sensitive readers, but entertaining nonetheless.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid : Cabin Fever - Jeff Kinney

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he's innocent. Or at least sort of.

The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he's going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays? (Summary from back of the book and image from http://bookboxdaily.scholastic.com/)

My Review: I think this installment of the Wimpy Kid series falls in line perfectly with the others. You still have the self-absorbed, gain-seeking, adolescent boy finding himself in situations he's either managed to get himself in or have thrust upon him. His reactions to the situations are what make Greg unique. Maybe a preteen could guess what he'd do, but as an adult his decisions can be baffling. I think there may be more drawings in this book than in the previous five, which I'm sure will appeal to struggling readers.

My personal opinion is that Greg's irritating, whiny, and selfish, but that doesn't change that he's relateable to my students, especially the boys. If I had a choice of books, I'd probably not pick this up -- I read these to connect with my students and know what they're so enthralled with. If I had to get a kid to start actually reading a book for an extended period of time, I would definitely offer this as a choice. Not because I like it, but because I know it's a first step to enjoying books.

I have to mention one of my biggest gripes with the book: over and over again Greg writes in his journal using "Me and my brother" instead of "my brother and I." Anyone who values grammar knows this is frustrating. Combine this with the knowledge that your students are reading, repeatedly, an incorrect sentence, obviously thinking it's correct because it's in print. It's enough to make any English teacher spiral into a conniption fit and it bugged me -- big time.

Rating: 3 stars--mostly because I know it gets kids reading. I personally don't enjoy them much.

Sum it up: A cooped up saga of a self-absorbed kid.

Blessings - Anna Quindlen

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: Blessings, the bestselling novel by the author of Black and Blue, One True Thing, Object Lessons, and A Short Guide to a Happy Life, begins when, late at night, a teenage couple drives up to the estate owned by Lydia Blessings and leaves a box. In this instant, the world of the estate called Blessings is changed forever. The story of Skip Cuddy, the Blessings caretaker, who finds a baby asleep in that box and decides he wants to keep her, and of matriarch Lydia Blessings, who, for her own reasons, decides to help him, Blessings explores how the secrets of the past affect decisions and lives in the present; what makes a person, a life, legitimate or illegitimate, and who decides; the unique resources people find in themselves and in a community. This is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and personal change by the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer about whom The Washington Post Book World said, "Quindlen knows that all the things we ever will be can be found in some forgotten fragment of family." (Summary from book - Image from www.classic.eyeonbooks.com )

My Review: I’ve reviewed two other books by Anna Quindlen – Black and Blue and Every Last One – and thought they were marvelous. Her writing is always exquisite, effortless, and richly detailed without being boring or pretentious. Blessings, the most peaceful piece of property in Mount Mason, and the people who lived there leaped from the page and set up shop in my head at the first opportunity.

Lydia Blessings is quite the character – literally and figuratively. At eighty years old, she is used to doing exactly what she wants and very set in her ways; she is frustrated with the changes that comes with old age and doesn’t like intrusions, especially from those of a younger, less refined generation. When Lydia hires Charles “Skip” Cuddy to work on her land, she, and all of town, assume it’s only a matter of time before he’s sent packing like all the rest.

Skip Cuddy doesn’t quite know what to do when he finds a newborn baby abandoned outside the garage where he lives and works as the caretaker of the Blessings estate. Lydia Blessings, his fastidious employer and nosy landlord is sure to disapprove. Still, Skip carries the little bundle up to his room over the garage and his world is never the same. Skip transforms into such a nurturing, devoted father figure, that I was half in love with him before he even figured out the importance of formula. His quiet tenderness and protective nature were unbelievably endearing (and, to be honest, a little hot). I loved watching Lydia and Skip’s characters evolve over the course of the story – Skip embracing his role as father, the blossoming connection between him and Faith, and Lydia’s slow acceptance and eventual love for both of them.

While I enjoyed this book, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I did her others. Her writing was as enchanting as ever, but I closed this book with a much heavier heart. It might be a pregnancy thing, but I desperately wanted a certain life for Lydia, Skip, and Faith. I shouldn’t have been surprised by an ending that ripped my heart out (sunshine-and-butterfly endings aren’t really Quindlen’s style) but I ached for the loss of their happily-ever-after. Also, Quindlen doesn’t shy away from profanity if it lends a character authenticity – and some of Skip’s friends were genuine potty-mouthed morons. I understand where she’s coming from, but I could have done without the language.

At its heart, Blessings is a novel about how love, even fleeting, can change us for the better. While I wouldn’t recommend this book to more sensitive readers, I would recommend it to everyone else.

My Rating: 4 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Scattered profanity of all varieties, some crass language, and occasional references to past sexual relationships.

Sum it up: A bittersweet exploration of love, transformation, and loss.

The Freak Observer - Blythe Woolston

2012-01-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: For eight years, Loa Lindgren's world ran like one of those mechanical models of the solar system, with her baby sister, Asta, as the sun. Asta suffered from a genetic disorder that left her a permanent infant, and caring for her was Loa's life. Everything spun neatly and regularly as the whole family orbited around Asta.

But now Asta's dead, and 16-year-old Loa's clockwork galaxy has collapsed. As Loa spins off on her own, her mind ambushes her with vivid nightmares and sadistic flashbacks-- a textbook case of PTSD. But there are no textbook fixes for Loa's short-circuiting brain. She must find her own way to pry her world from the clutches of death. (Summary from book - Image from www.lernerbooks.com - Book given free for an honest review).

My Review: Loa’s world was blown out of orbit the day her younger sister died. With Asta gone, her family fell apart, her life evaporated and now she’s floundering, plagued with nightmares and bizarre hallucinations that she can’t seem to escape. The Freak Observer follows Loa’s life as she works through her feelings of grief, panic, loneliness, and betrayal. It was not a book that I raced through, or even particularly enjoyed, but I did appreciate the experience and Loa’s insightful observations.

Laced with dark humor and acerbic wit, Loa’s voice was honest and undeniably unique. Despite her rough edges, her love for her younger siblings was tender and moving. I connected with the discouragement and despair that she felt, the loneliness and pain that came from suffering through a series of tragic losses and family instability. I don’t know if I would like Loa if I met her – you know, if she weren’t fictional – but I feel like this book helped me to better understand the pain, confusion, and anger that accompanies loss.

Unfortuantely, parts of this book didn’t resonate with me. I didn’t understand the concept of the “freak observer,” how it factored into the story, or, let’s face it, any of the physics-based chapter headings. It’s likely that the subject matter was miles over my head – it’s been quite a while since I’ve had a conversation that wasn’t about diapers, time-outs, or morning sickness – and that a sharper mind might fare better. However, my biggest problem with The Freak Observer was the frequent use of profanity that really wasn’t necessary for the story, and Loa’s indifferent and casual attitude about sex. It might not bother everyone, but it bothered me, and I’m not a particularly sensitive reader.

For all its darkness, The Freak Observer did end on a positive note, but even so, I’m not sure if I’d recommend this book to just anyone. Loa’s voice, and her raw, honest emotions were what compelled me to keep reading when otherwise, I might not have finished.

My Rating: 3 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Plenty of profanity (of all kinds), underage drinking, and some vague but entirely-too-casual underage sex. Seriously, she might as well have been taking out the trash.

Sum it up: Honest with a unique voice.

Look What I Just Got in the Mail...

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

Go ahead. Be jealous.

Since 2005, Stephanie Nielson has been the the author of the popular blog, The NieNie Dialogues. In the fall of 2008, she and her husband, Christian barely survived a devastating airplane crash. Both were severely burned and Stephanie ended up in a coma with burns over 80% of her body.

Life changed that day and it has never been the same. It's been better. Heaven Is Here tells Stephanie's story of recovery -- her story of "hope, triumph, and everyday joy."

And I get to read it early.

*happy dance*

Please don't hate me (well, if you must, but only just a little).

I promise to post a review on, or just before, its release in April.

I suppose if you can't wait, you can always check out the digital preview.

The Great Fat Fraud - Mike Schatzki

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: Are you tired of buying diet book after diet book? Have you tried every exercise class at your gym? Are you ready to toss the whole concept of diet and exercise out the window? It’s time to try something different.

If you’re ready for a real change, and ready to take back control of your body, let The Great Fat Fraud provide you with the road map.
Summary and cover photo from www.greatfatfraud.com This book was provided free for review.

My Review: Mike Schatzki attempts to alter the view of modern society that being overweight (or fat) is equivalent to being unhealthy. By applying multiple peer-reviewed studies the author details how fitness is a more correct indicator of health than weight. The main study focused on in this book is one that details, with the use of graphs, that being fit greatly reduce death rate regardless of weight. The author defines fit as walking 10,000 steps a day and provides research on how this number was determined.

I appreciate the effort made in debunking the myth that health can be measure in terms of weight or BMI. By providing a simple solution for a life of fitness by walking 10,000 steps a day, the author simplifies fitness and makes it obtainable for everyone. The book stresses that one should move at his or her own pace with no timeline for reaching the goal steps. We tend to overly complicate fitness, so I think that offering a simplistic solution is valuable. One of the reasons people don’t commit to a fitness routine is because the manner in which it is marketed makes it feel too time consuming and difficult. My favorite part of the book comes when the author offers a solution for the argument that there is not enough time to walk 10,000 steps. He does not tell readers to make it a priority but rather a necessity in which other things should be scheduled around. What a great solution and one we could all benefit from.

There are several other things I appreciated about this book. The endnotes are very detailed and provide not only the article in which you can look up the research for yourself but the area the information can be found in each research paper. The book is short and easy to read. All medical jargon is adequately explained in layman’s terms. The additional website provides deeper insight into thoughts presented within the book.

My biggest beef with this book is the fact that it neglects to take into account diet in any form. While I agree that fitness levels play a vital role in health, I feel that research has shown that what one puts into his or her body is equally important. The author emphasizes that our bodies were designed to exercise by hunting and gathering but neglects to mention that they weren’t designed to digest all that fast-food or processed food that we put into them. There is also no mention of additional benefits from developing muscle by adding to a walking fitness routine. Our bodies were designed to work and be more muscular than most are now. Muscle burns more calories and small amounts of muscle mass can be added without working out hours each day.

Another point that the book does not detail is the amount of morbidly obese people who are actually fit. I would venture a guess that there are quite a few people who would be classified as obese, BMI above 25, that are physically fit but how many people with a BMI above 30, classified as morbidly obese, are fit? If these people walked the recommended 10,000 steps each and every day they are likely to see a drop in their weight. If the author truly wants to make the point that weight does not correlate with health then some actual numbers in this area would be quite beneficial.

Overall this book is a great starting point but is by no means the end-all be-all to healthy living. The suggestion to walk 10,000 steps each day is a simple step people may take to becoming more healthy. Yet how we fuel our bodies should also be included. A short chapter on one to three simple eating changes would add a great deal of value to the book.

My Rating: 3 Stars

To sum it up: A valid attempt to stress the importance of fitness over weight, yet lacking some important key points.

When She Woke - Hillary Jordan

2012-01-15T07:00:00.001-08:00

Summary: Hannah Payne's life has been devoted to church and family. But after she's convicted of murder, she awakens in a new body to a nightmarish new life. She finds herself lying on a table in a bare room, covered only by a paper gown, with cameras broadcasting her every move to millions at home, for whom observing new Chromes--criminals whose skin color has been genetically altered to match the class of their crime--is a sinister form of entertainment.

Hannah is a Red for the crime of murder. The victim, says the State of Texas, was her unborn child, and Hannah is determined to protect the identity of the father, a public figure with whom she shared a fierce and forbidden love.

A powerful reimagining of "The Scarlet Letter," "When She Woke" is a timely fable about a stigmatized woman struggling to navigate an America of the not-too-distant future, where the line between church and state has been eradicated, and convicted felons are no longer imprisoned and rehabilitated but chromed and released back into the population to survive as best they can. In seeking a path to safety in an alien and hostile world, Hannah unknowingly embarks on a journey of self-discovery that forces her to question the values she once held true and the righteousness of a country that politicizes faith and love.
Summary and cover photo from indiebound.org

My Review: The idea of this novel is not so unique as it plays upon The Scarlet Letter. Yet it is creative in the way the author addresses the issues that arose within that novel. In this futuristic society criminals are easily identified by their skin color, as all criminals are chromed with a skin color to match the crime they are convicted of. Caught stealing? You may awake with bright yellow skin. The heroine of this tale, Hannah Payne, awakes red after being convicted for murder because of an abortion. The story follows her as she attempts to overcome the society's prejudice, meanwhile uncovering her own beliefs.

The novel starts out gripping. Hannah Payne is a likable character despite her crime. Her fierceness to protect the father of her unborn child is endearing. Her willpower is amazing. As the reader follows her journey out of prison into society one cannot help but root for her triumph.

Yet about half way through the novel loses it’s steam. The author did a wonderful job developing this character yet seems to just drop many of the attributes she created in her. For example, Hannah is given this amazing ability to create and sew, yet after utilizing this talent briefly it is never mentioned again. Also the author created some very powerful female characters that were never developed to their full potential. It seems that at this point the author relied on shock value to add to the story and failed. There is a detailed sex scene that adds no value to the story whatsoever.

The setting of the story presents another problem. The author begins by setting up a very conservative, old-fashioned society; a culture where people sew their own clothing and live off the land. Yet later in the book we experience the main character patronizing a popular discount store. It felt like the author was undecided on which path to take the story.

Overall I would have to say this was a thought-provoking novel. Its subject matter and dystopian aura makes it appealing. Yet it is not fully ripened. It feels like alternative motives took precedence about half way through and the story was lost. The ending also leaves much to be desired. This is most unfortunate as the novel had so much potential.

My Rating: 3 Stars

Sensitive Readers - This is not a book for the conservative reader. It deals with the issues of abortion and sexuality. It also has a strong feminist message and language many would find offensive.

To sum it up: Another tale with amazing potential yet poor follow-through.

Where She Went - Gayle Forman

2012-01-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: My first impulse is not to grab her or kiss her or yell at her. I simply want to touch her cheek, still flushed from the night's performance. I want to cut through the space that separates us, measured in feet--not miles, not continents, not years--and to take a callused finger to her face...

But I can't touch her. This is a privilege that's been revoked.

It's been three years since Adam's love saved Mia after the accident that annihilated life as she knew it...

...and three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is L.A. tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future--and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, powerful prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance. (Summary from jacket cover and image from http://lucidconspiracy.blogspot.com/)

My Review: This was another compelling and time-warping book. A companion and sequel to If I Stay (RFS reviews here and here), it was heart-wrenching, emotion-packed, grief-driven ride into the world of Adam and Mia. I loved it. If I Stay is from Mia's perspective and this from Adams. At first I wasn't sure if I liked this switch in point of view. Within a few chapters I was not only sold, but I also believed the relationship (despite starting in high school) of Mia and Adam. While reading I couldn't fathom the reasons for their separation, but this all changed by the end and both Adam and Mia's subconscious motives are revealed. I can't say I've ever dealt with such grief, such raw and undeserved pain. That's probably why I couldn't see where the story was going or how it would ever resolve itself. The ending was most satisfying, and even despite the fact the outcome may seem cliche to some, Forman made it believable enough for me. I was rooting for Adam (and for Mia, although lesser in the beginning) and hoping that his wounds would eventually heal, and that's what you get (without going into too much detail and ruining the ending of the book).

I wish I had more knowledge of the music she wrote about and referenced. It might have helped me understand the tone she was looking for and the mood that I got from reading. If you have the chance, and you're in the midst of reading this book, I'd say look up the songs while reading and see if it adds more depth.

I am a bit surprised this book is in my middle school library. Not because of the content, but because of the swearing (or the amount of it) and the hinted-at sex scene. I maybe shouldn't be that surprised, because it seems that YA lit is saturated with it. Still, for and eighth graders I still think the adult nature of their relationship is too mature. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but that's my opinion.

Rating: 4.5 stars

For the sensitive reader: A hinted-at sex scene as well as Adam's one-night-stand references, and swearing throughout might turn off some readers. When I book talk for my students I give them movie ratings. This one would be R simply for the number of times the F word was used.

Sum it up: A thoroughly engrossing, but not depressing story of healing from devastating grief.

The Spiderwick Chronicles : The Seeing Stone - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace are drawn into a dangerous adventure when invisible creatures drag Simon into the forest surround the Spiderwick mansion. Jared and Mallory are determined to rescue him, but how can they fight an invisible enemy? (Summary from me - Image from openlibrary.org )

My Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone is the second of five books in the Spiderwick Chronicles series. You can read our review of the first book here. In the last book, Jared discovered a mysterious field guide written by his late ancestor, Arthur Spiderwick, that detailed the fantastical creatures that lived unseen in the world. Now, something is after the book and Simon is kidnapped. Determined to find their brother, Mallory and Jared enter the forest armed only with a magical seeing stone and a rapier. Along the way, they make a new friend (sort-of) and encounter creatures beyond their wildest imaginings.

My kids really enjoyed this book, but I can see how it could be a little scary for more sensitive readers. As a bit of a spoiler, the invisible creatures are some ugly, violent little goblins that like to roast and eat cats. At one point Simon is locked in a cage and in danger of being their next meal. My little ones handled this just fine, but others might not. The illustrations in this book are black and white, but fairly detailed -- which is fabulous and fascinating unless your kid has a hard time sleeping at night, and then it's likely to lead to disaster.

Overall, I thought this was a great continuation of the series and I plan to keep reading the rest of the series to my six and eight-year-old.

Post-edit: I have finished this reading this series to my kids (we've had a bit of a backlog in our line-up), and while they enjoyed them immensely, I really don't have much to say about the rest of the series beyond what I have already said -- except that I feel the series should have been (and could have been) released all in one book. Regardless, the series, in its entirety, is sure to please courageous young adventurers who don't mind a little scary faery action.

My Rating: 4 Stars.

For the sensitive reader: Some images might be considered frightening for younger children. I seem to recall a little bit of name calling and use of the "S" word (stupid ;) as well. (Post-edit: Later books use the word "crap," as well)

Sum it up: A great continuation to an imaginative series. Parents with sensitive-to-scary children might want to proceed with caution.

Divergent - Veronica Roth

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue -- Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is -- she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are -- and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves or it might destroy her. (Summary from book - Image from veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com)
My Review: Divergent was a rush -- a torrent of emotion, danger, and breath-taking adventure with some seriously delicious romance thrown in. I tore through the entire 487-page book in an afternoon -- an afternoon when I was sick with a cold and supposed to be napping.  Instead, I was locked in my bedroom reading. (Shhhh. Don't tell.) I had so much fun!

Divergent is set in Chicago, or what once was Chicago, years before society broke down. In an effort to save a crumbling government, the people separated themselves factions: Abnegation, Candor, Dauntless, Erudite, and Amity. Each faction focused on a value they believe will save humanity (e.g. selflessness, honesty, bravery, knowledge, and peace) and vowed to live by that precept. Despite the seeming tranquility, unrest simmers just below the surface of this peaceful society. At the age of sixteen, children are forced to select which faction they will belong to for the rest of their lives, and now Beatrice (aka Tris) Prior must choose -- does she stay with her family and live a life of selflessness, or does she follow her heart?  No matter what choice she makes, she won't be safe.

I was easily and delightfully lost in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago, with its separate factions and their different mannerisms, fashions, and values. Each chapter I raced through revealed more about the different factions, Tris' character, her struggles to pass initiation, and the hidden agendas of other characters.  The intrigue, action, and romance kept my heart racing and I was certainily never bored.

Aaand, speaking of romance. Tris and a certain someone have some unbelievably electric chemistry. I mean... just... wow...and... *sigh*!   I held my breath nearly every time they were in a room together and loved every second of it. Who needs oxygen, right? Not me.

What I loved most about this book, aside from the sizzly romance, was its strong female heroine. Tris wasn't a perfect princess. She wasn't stunningly beautiful, simpering, or irritatingly flawless. In fact, she had moments of selfishness, insecurity, and down right stubbornness. Honestly, it was refreshing to see a capable, tough as nails, heroine that did her own saving.

If, after all my gushing, you really need someone else's opinion, head on over to Goodreads, where Divergent was voted Favorite Book of 2011. With a cinematic intensity worthy of the big screen, I wouldn't be surprised to see Divergent hit theatres. Oh wait. *HAPPY DANCE*   This could probably go without saying, but I will definitely be picking up the sequel, Insurgent, when it is released in May 2012.

My Rating: 5 Stars. Matched is no match for Divergent.

For the sensitive reader: Some nearly sexual situations and several scenes of graphic combat-related violence. It didn't bother me, but it has bothered others (see comments). I don't remember any profanity, but honestly, I was so sucked into the story that I don't think it would have even registered.

Sum it up:    If you like YA dystopian fiction with a little romance thrown in...WHY ARE YOU STILL SITTING THERE?!??! Go get this book.

My First Summer in the Sierra - John Muir

2012-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

Reading For Sanity would like to thank avid outdoorsman and guest reviewer, Michael Irving for this review. Michael works as an admissions counselor for Idaho State University, moonlights as an amateur chef, and maintains that has yet to lose an argument. He's also my younger brother. I spent such a significant portion of my adolescence tormenting him, I'm surprised he still speaks to me, let alone sends me reviews.

(Michael at The City of Rocks National Reserve in southern Idaho)

Summary: In the summer of 1869, John Muir made his first long trip to Yosemite. When a friend offered him the chance to accompany his flock of sheep and a shepherd to the high pastures of the Sierra, it was an opportunity Muir could not resist. My First Summer in the Sierra is the journal he kept of those summer days, of the wildlife and plant life, and of his explorations into the magical places of the mountains.

Founder of the Sierra Club, and its president until his death, preserver of his beloved Yosemite as a national park, Muir was a spirit so free that all he did to prepare for an expedition was to "throw some tea and bread into an old sack and jump over the back fence." In a world confronting the deterioration of the natural environment and an ever-quickening pace of life, the attraction of Muir's writings has never been greater. (Summary from book - Image from www.myfirstsummerinthesierra.com )

Michael's Review: I consider My First Summer in the Sierra one of American Literature's hidden treasures. The book chronicles the experiences of a young conservationist, John Muir, as he trekked through the Sierra Nevada Mountains outside of San Francisco. Born in 1838 on the coast of Scotland, Muir immigrated with his family to the United States as a young boy. Here formal and informal education planted seeds that sprouted deep desires to live, and move, and breathe in wild places. Consequently a simple trip to San Francisco sparked a summer of traveling through the surrounding countryside as a shepherd. Muir's record during his travels recounts everything from harrowing tales of bear attacks, to the simple and sublime silence of a warm summers eve.

Muir has a unique style of writing. His ability to take the unadorned moments of his day to day life and, with words, dress them in regal attire is what moves this book from good to great. However for those readers that prefer a writing style that is more technical, Muir offers that as well. His style traverses the entire range of literary thought, moving from poetic to scientific and back again. Thus his writing allows a diversity of interests to feel comfortable and enjoy his words.

His Rating: 4.5 Stars. This book is a must read for any person who feels a connection with the outside world. However for those wayward souls that don't feel so inclined, be warned that the passion felt in Muir's writing has the power to persuade even the most hardened urbanites. It didn't receive a full 5 stars because there were times when I felt as if I was drowning in expressive language and I would literally have to stop just to catch my breath.

Sum it up: If you are looking at a book to grow, continue or even rekindle that passionate flame of love for the world wild, dive into this book and lets Muir's words wash over you.

The Lace Makers of Glenmara - Heather Barbieri

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: "You can always start again," Kate Robinson's mother once told her -- "all it takes is a new thread." Overwhelmed by heartbreak and loss, the struggling twenty-six-year-old fashion designer follows her mother's advice and flees to her ancestral homeland of Ireland, hoping to break free of old patterns and reinvent herself.
Soon she arrive on the west coast, in the seaside hamlet of Glenmara. In this charming, fading Gaelic village, Kate quickly develops a bond with members of the local lace making society.

...Under Glenmara's spell, Kate finds the inspiration that has eluded her, and soon she and the lace makers are creating a line of exquisite lingerie. In their skilled hands, flowers, Celtic dragons, nymphs, fish, saints, kings and queens come to life, rendered with almost painterly skill. The circle also offers them something more -- the strength to face long-denied desires and fears. But not everyone welcomes Kate, and a series of unexpected events threatens to unravel everything the women have worked so hard for... (Summary from book - Image from goodreads.com )

My Review: The Lace Makers of Glenmara takes place in the brilliantly lush and mystical country of Ireland. I fell in love with the Irish countryside quickly and the ladies of Glenmara’s lace-making circle weren’t far behind. The further I read, the more connected I felt with each woman and her experiences: Bernie, recently widowed and lonely; Oona, struggling with the aftermath of a devastating surgery; Colleen, waiting for her husband who has been out on the sea far too long; Moira, unwilling to leave an abusive relationship; and even the uniformly unpleasant Aileen, who had her own list of demons. These women were complicated and imperfect -- they were real.

And then there was Kate -- young, desperate, and devastated by the betrayal of the man she loved who finds comfort in Ireland and in the lace makers of Glenmara. She wasn’t in town very long before she stumbled into the path (and bed) of Sullivan Dean, a handsome local artist. I was a disappointed that Kate wasn’t more cautious in pursuing Sullivan – given her resolution to swear off men of his ilk – and thought they could have taken more time getting to know each other before becoming intimate. While most of the lace makers (and obviously, Sullivan) were delighted to have a visitor in town, Kate’s presence and her various activities draw the ire of Father Byrne, Glenmara’s xenophobic and nosy local preacher. He’s a creep, but it was fun to watch him get riled up.

Overall, I appreciated Kate’s back story, her relationship with Sullivan, and her interactions with Father Byrne, but I was infinitely more absorbed in the lace maker's lives. I enjoyed the Irish setting and the women of Glenmara, and felt that they were what made this book interesting. I would probably recommend this as a good one time read – the kind you borrow, but don’t keep.

My Rating: 3.75 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Some sex, though usually the shut-the-door-wake-up-the-next-morning variety. Some fairly liberal use of Irish words that I can only assume are comparative to American curse words(eg. feck, shite, Jay-sus).

Sum it up: A somewhat enchanting tale of love, loss, and lace.

What My Mother Doesn't Know - Sonya Sones

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: My name is Sophie
This book is about me.
It tells
the heart-stoppingly riveting story
of my first love.
And also of my second.
And, okay, my third love, too.

It's not that I'm boy crazy.
It's just that even though
I'm almost fifteen
I've been having sort of a hard time
trying to figure out the difference
between love and lust.

It's like
my mind
and my body
and my heart
just don't seem to be able to agree
on anything. (Summary from jacket cover and image from http://bybookorbycrook.files.wordpress.com/)

My Review: I read and reviewed Sones' other book What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know previously and knew I wanted to check this one out. While I can't say this one is as funny as the other, it was still an enjoyable read. It's in poetry style format just like WMGDK, and I have to say I think this is a great strategy for teen readers. So many are daunted by the length of a book. Once they see the white space each page has, they jump to give it a try. Combine that with a good book talk promoting the book and I have students climbing over each other to be the first to read it. There's something very satisfying with whipping through a book so quickly. Today I read all 259 pages in 2 hours. My students were impressed, which honestly they shouldn't be but it does help with my promo.

Sophie is such a quirky girl. I cannot say even half of the ideas that pop into her head had or have ever popped into mine. She's more on the wild side, although deep down still a very sweet girl who's simply navigating her way through teen crossroads very charged with hormones. Her friends aren't far off from where she is. It's written as if it took place about when I was in high school (no surprise, its copyright is 2001), and that added another level of connection for me as a reader. I typically give books a rating when I tell students about them and I'd put this one at PG. There's kissing and a lot of talk about kissing, but it doesn't go beyond that with her relationships. There is one moment where a jerk-teenage-boy is dared by his friends to cop a feel, an incident where she feels violated and retaliates, but other than that it stays in the PG realm. It was a funny book, with very real teenage issues, but definitely not nearly as funny as WMGDK. I can tell you though that my students love this book and recommend it to each other.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Sum it up: An eccentric, bit of a wild girl trying to figure out just exactly what she feels and thinks about boys, religion, her parents, and life.

For Authors, Publishers, and Book Lovers

2012-01-01T07:00:00.002-08:00

We'll be making a small change to the review line-up this year. Since three of us will be having babies just before summer hits, we have decided to take the summer off reviewing, starting June 1st, so that we can focus on our young ones and enjoy the down time with our families. Never fear -- lest you shrivel up and die without our company -- we have a little something planned to hold you over until the end of August.

In place of our regular reviewing, we will be continuing our In My Stack series, highlighting books on our to-read list with a book teaser and essential links. We are also going to be starting a Book Spotlight, and this is where authors, publishers, and book lovers should pay attention. Starting today (January 1, 2012) we are opening our inbox and mailbox to publishers, authors, and booklovers who would like to showcase a book in our weekly or bi-weekly spotlights. These spotlights are not reviews, but rather sneak peeks at what is on the market and a chance to get your book, or your favorite book, noticed. Not all submissions will be accepted, but they will be carefully considered. Anyone interested in submitting a book can contact me at mindyoja at hotmail dot com and we'll work out the details.

Make your submission soon, before spots fill up!

Best Reads of 2011

2011-12-31T07:00:00.000-08:00

The votes are in!

We've look backed through our book reviews for the year,

and here are Reading For Sanity's choices for

Best Reads of 2011!

(in alphabetical order by genre)

Click the titles to read our reviews!

Adult Fiction

Before I Go to Sleep - S.J. Watson

Black and Blue - Anna Quindlen

The Dry Grass of August - Anna Jean Mayhew

Every Last One - Anna Quindlen

Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell

The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County - Tiffany Baker

Rebecca - Daphne DuMaurier

The Turn of the Screw - Henry James

The Winter Sea - Susanna Kearsley

Adult Non-Fiction

The Dirty Life : On Farming, Food and Love - Kristin Kimball

Farmers' Market Desserts - Jennie Schacht

The Roasted Vegetable - Andrea Chessman

So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids - Diane E. Levin, Ph.D, & Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand

We're Not Leaving: 9/11 Responders Tell Their Stories of Courage, Sacrifice, and Renewal - Benjamin J. Luft, M.D.

Young Adult

Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys

Crank - Ellen Hopkins

Dairy Queen - Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Delirium - Lauren Oliver

The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan

Geek Girl - Cindy C. Bennett

Hourglass - Myra McEntire

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

Mockingbird - Kathryn Erskine

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Mildred D. Taylor

Savvy & Scumble - Ingrid Law

Wednesday Wars - Gary D. Schmidt

Children's Fiction

The BusyBook Series - Trish Kuffner

The Emperor of Absurdia - Chris

Gregor the Overlander - Suzanne Collins

The Monster at the End of this Book - Jon Stone

The Pigeon Book Series - Mo Willems

The Pout-Pout Fish - Deborah Diesen

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Beverly Cleary

Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy - Matthew Reinhart

The Tiger Rising - Kate DiCamillo

That's it for 2011!

I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring.

Cold River - Liz Adair

2011-12-29T07:00:00.001-08:00

Summary: Someone wants Mandy dead...

Mandy Steenburg thinks her doctorate in education has prepared her to run any school district--until she tangles with the moonshine-making, coon-dog-owning denizens of a tiny district in the Pacific Northwest timber country. She's determined to make a difference, but the local populace still looks to the former superintendent for leadership. When Mandy lands in the middle of an old feud and someone keeps trying to kill her, instinct tells her to run. And though she has to literally swim through perilous waters, she finds a reason to stay and chance the odds. (Summary from back of the book, book given free for review and image from http://marytrimble.blogspot.com/)

My Review: When I finished this book, I set it aside for nearly a week before writing my review. Even though I read it quickly and had a vested interest in both the setting and the subject matter, I was afraid if I reviewed it too soon after reading I might not give it a fair rating. I had to let things sit a while.

There were several aspects of the story that I enjoyed. The beginning chapters caught my attention right away, and although the next few started to wane, it picked right back up and I finished much quicker than I'd expected. I loved the setting of the backwoods Pacific Northwest. The author's depiction of the community is quite believable -- the clothing, weather, relaxed attitudes, innumerable family connections, the secrets and information people just expect you to somehow know because everyone else knows -- spot on really, especially if you've ever spent time in the Pacific Northwest. As a teacher, my interest was piqued by the issues of how state and national regulations are putting pressure on everyone, small districts included, and how it is being addressed. Not that it went into too much detail here, but it kept the storyline running.

I had three main qualms about this story. First, I figured out what was going on early on -- before I was even halfway through the book. Second, the romance wasn't that believable. After all, how can you really develop a relationship without interaction? And finally, the writing wasn't bad, but it also wasn't amazing.

Despite my reservations about the story, I was surprised that I left this book still thinking about the characters. I didn't realize I'd become that vested in Mandy until I closed the book, but was happy to know she'd found a place on my imaginary list of 'book friends.'

My Rating: 3.75 stars

For the sensitive reader: Nothing here but a few benign kisses. Read freely.

Sum it up: A somewhat predictable mystery, but enjoyable nonetheless.

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

2011-12-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

Also reviewed by Heather.

Summary: On a day that started like any other...

Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, adoring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. Then, in an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left--the most important decision she'll ever make.

Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, living, dying, loving. (Summary from back of the book and image from http://ebookstore.sony.com/ )

My Review: I'm conflicted on this review. I read the book like swallowing a glass of water, but I did have a few issues with it. My biggest gripes were the racier material (teenage drinking, swearing, and hints of an underage sexual relationship) and choppy writing. Periodically, I had to re-read sentences because the fluency was off.

However, I loved the overall concept -- Do people in a coma really have a choice over whether to live or die? I also enjoyed the Pacific Northwest setting (it's close to home), Mia's parents laid back depiction (very Oregon "Keep Portland Weird!"), and the influence of music and how it subtly added mood to the story (you can listen to each song on Gayle Forman's website and playlist). I especially loved the portrayal of a functional, happy family.

Even with my "gripes," this was a book I didn't want to put down. I read it in two days (amidst taking care of two children, teaching, and being quite sick). I think I'll be careful who I recommend this to in my middle school, but I'm sure high school students will love it as well.

My Rating: 4 stars

For the sensitive reader: Although it's in our middle school library, it mentions underage drinking, underage sex, and lots of swearing. Not that it stopped me reading, but it does have these things.

Sum it up: How much choice does someone really have while in a coma? To live or die?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2011-12-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

-- Luke 2:10-11

Merry Christmas from all of us at Reading For Sanity!

Now, get off the internet and go spend time with (or call) someone you love!

We'll be back in a couple of days.

If you'd like something to click on, here is a video of the Nativity story called A Gift to the World.

The Christmas Crimes At Puzzel Manor - Simon Brett

2011-12-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: Oh, Holy Fright!

There's a Christmas corpse under the mistletoe this year...and if you can solve each of the nineteen puzzles you can catch the killer!

You are cordially invited to a Christmas holiday at gorgeous Puzzel Manor...all expenses paid. Except the real cost is a game of murder!

So get ready for the plum pudding and a silent, most unholy night...as a snowstorm cuts you off from the outside world and a mysterious Christmas contest of crime begins. The rules are dead simple. Solve the puzzles and a serial killer called The Executive Executioner is nabbed at last. The first clue is right at hand...next to the shattered body of a corpse.

Here's all you have to do:

Sit back and enjoy a great Simon Brett mystery.

Be alert for crossword puzzles, anagrams, scrambled words, riddles, and assorted brainteasers in each of the nineteen clues.

Use your IQ to catch a killer PDQ before your Christmas goose is cooked...in a Yuletide treat for all who know 'tis the season to deduce whodunit! (Summary from back of the book and image from http://www.bookfever.com/)

My Review: Jack is a retired detective, forced into retirement by a bullet to the hip that has left him wheelchair bound. He is on vacation at Puzzel Manor when his worst nightmare, the person who forced him into retirement makes an appearance yet again, one meant just to torment him.

Although the book summary makes you think you'll be the protagonist in the story, and you do get to figure things out on your own as you read, you're actually following Jack Tarrant and his girlfriend Maria Lethbury. I thought I'd figured out whodunit, but I was definitely wrong! It has a great twist, lots of confusing puzzles, and enough character development to keep me engaged throughout. It's not your typical Christmas read, but it was fun nonetheless.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

For the sensitive reader: Hinted at intimacy and parts that suggest a sexual relationship between Jack and Maria. Otherwise, it was fairly clean.

Sum it up: A great mystery with lots of puzzles and twists.

The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: After U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his tour of duty in Iraq, he experiences a sudden streak of luck, winning pokers games and even surviving deadly combat. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph -- his lucky charm.

Back home in Colorado, Thibault can't seem to get the woman in the photograph out of his mind and he sets out on a journey across the country to find her. But Thibault is caught off guard by the strong attraction he feels when his search leads him to Elizabeth, a divorced mother in North Carolina with a young son -- and he keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate love affair, Thibault's secret will soon threaten to tear them apart, destroying not only their love, but also their lives. (Summary from book - Image from disneydreaming.com)

My Review: Nicholas Sparks books are what they are – chick flicks in print. They are predictable, relationship-driven romance novels that appeal to fundamental emotions (e.g. love, loneliness, loss, anger, jealousy, etc.), with the requisite bittersweet ending that usually manages to make women swoon and cry at the same time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sniffle-swooned through the movie version of The Notebook. This book is classic Nicholas Sparks. If you have read and enjoyed his other books, you’ll probably feel the same away about this one.

While I read through this book rather quickly and enjoyed the plot, I felt the characters could have used a little work. They read like stock characters picked out of a catalog: Logan Thibault, a sensitive, gentlemanly former marine who just happens to be everything a woman wants; Keith Clayton, the skeezy ex-husband who can’t seem to let go; Nana, the quirky but wise grandmother; and Elizabeth, the lonely and gaurded single mother who is deeply in need of a knight in shining body armor. These characters weren’t bad, and I could appreciate them on a superficial level, but they lacked the depth that would have brought them off page.

My biggest problem with this book came in the final pages when it was fairly obvious the author was stalling, stringing the reader along for dramatic effect. I don’t appreciate being “written” down to and found it insulting. Enough said.

Overall, I’d probably only recommend this book to readers who are already Nicholas Sparks fans.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars. It’s not bad. It’s just not amazing.

For the sensitive reader: Some sexual situations. I think the phrase “He moved above her” was about as graphic as it got although there were several situations when the phrase could have been used. I can’t remember any language…but I have prego-brain so please, no hate mail if I missed one. Also, Clayton is a sexist and a pervert, and that is reflect in his thoughts, words, and actions.

Sum it up: Exactly what you’d expect from a Nicholas Sparks novel. Emotion, romance, and conflict without a lot of character depth.

The Power of Six - Pittacus Lore

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

This book is the sequel to I am Number Four in the Lorien Legacies series. If you haven't read that one already, you might want to read it (or at least see the movie) before reading this review.

Summary: I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me...he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us -- if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another...but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio -- and failed. I am Number Seven. One of six still alive. And I'm ready to fight. (Summary from book - Image from www.iamnumberfourfans.com )

My Review: The Power of Six is the sequel to NYT Bestseller I am Number Four of the Lorien Legacies Series. Even though it has been a while since I read the first book, I had no problem jumping right back into the fray and blew through this one in the better part of an afternoon.

Narrated by Four (aka John Smith) , and a new character, Seven, The Power of Six ping pongs between their two lives. I won’t spoil Number Seven’s story, but I thought it was very interesting. Number Four’s story picks up where I am Number Four left off -- John Smith is on the run with his friend Sam and Six, the member of the Lorien Garde who saved his life back in Paradise, OH. They are on a desperate search for the remaining Numbers, hopeful that together they will be able to stand against the Mogadorian hordes that are hot on their trail.

I (not so) secretly wish I had magical powers, so this kind of story always appeals to me when I’m in the mood for some light reading. Sam has a bigger part to play and Number Seven is not the only new Lorien character to show up. I enjoyed learning about each Number’s emerging legacies, their back stories, and how their powers would interact and complement each other when they came together.

Most of the issues I had with I am Number Four were taken care of in The Power of Six. My main complaint with the first book was that the Mogadorians felt comic-book scary, which made it difficult to take them seriously. The Power of Six explained that different types of Mogadorians are able to successfully pass as humans. This revelation made them more intimidating, because I never knew when they were going to pop up in a crowd. I also felt that John and Sarah's relationship fizzled towards the end of the book, despite their constant protestations of love. Although John and Sarah’s romance never seems to resonate with me, even in the sequel, it plays a smaller role because they spend much of their time apart. It also doesn’t hurt that as John spends more time with Six and Sam, some fairly interesting emotions come into play (wink, wink).

Ultimately, The Power of Six was a fun, easy read, and it made me like I am Number Four even more. While the story wasn’t particularly deep, in either plot or writing style, I was fully entertained. Beware, it packs a cliffhanger ending and there is still plenty more of the story to come! I look forward to reading the next book, The Rise of Nine, when it comes out in August 2012.

For Lorien Legacy fans who can't wait till then -- download I am Number Four: The Lost Files, an ebook of Six's story.

My Rating: 4 Stars

For the sensitive reader: A couple instances of biblical profanity, and plenty of fantasy violence, but that’s it.

Sum it up: A fun series with a sequel that made me like the first book even more.

Ramona the Brave - Beverly Cleary

2011-12-17T07:00:00.001-08:00

Summary: In this touching and funny story, the ebullient Ramona, feeling brave and grown-up, enters the first grade. Quickly she finds that her new teacher, Mrs. Griggs, appears perplexed by pupils who like to be different. Since Ramona cannot help being different, clearly the two are incompatible.

Nevertheless, Ramona can be counted on to keep things lively. Enraged when Susan copies her wise old owl prepared for Parents' Night and receives praise for it, Ramona rebels. Overcome by guilt and no longer brave, she tries mightily thereafter to please her teacher, but still Mrs. Griggs infuriatingly reports home that Ramona lacks self-control. Only because she is a girl with spunk, to use her father's word, does Ramona's courage return, earning her at last an uneasy truce with the teacher. (Summary from book - Image from openlibrary.org)

My Review: Ramona Quimby is having a hard time in first grade. Mrs. Griggs isn't nearly as nice as her old teacher, Mrs. Binney. She made Ramona apologize in front of the entire class for wrecking Susan's owl, is always telling her to keep her eyes on her own paper, and she even she said mean things about her at parent-teacher conference. At home, Ramona's mother has gone back to work, and Ramona is going to get a new room all of her very own but is afraid to spend the night there by herself. First grade is tough, but Ramona is determined to be brave.

Of the three Ramona books we've read so far (Ramona the Pest, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, and this one), Ramona the Brave is my least favorite. Oh, it was alright and had some funny moments, but it felt more emotionally weighed down than the others with a lot of Ramona feeling angry or bad about herself and doing things that were naughty. I suppose you could argue that these emotions are realistic, especially when a young girl is trying to understand the world around her, but all I noticed was that my girls just didn't seem to enjoy it as much and weren't begging me to read it, unless you count the chapter called Ramona Says a Bad Word. It wasn't that this book was bad, it just wasn't as interesting as Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Don't worry, the bad word is Guts!

Sum it up: Not my favorite in the series, but still worth a read.

Star Wars : A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy - Matthew Reinhart

2011-12-15T07:00:00.001-08:00

Summary: A big fat Star Wars pop-up book with lots of interesting Star Wars facts. (Summary - I made it up. Image from www.craziestgadgets.com)

My Review: I never buy pop-up books. My kids always mess them up -- they open them wrong, tear them to peices, and in minutes I'm left with a formerly expensive, non-functioning mess of paper that sticks out at odd angles. So, pop-up books?! No, thank you. I have always been perfectly content to walk right by them. That is, until my daughter saw this one. Perhaps I should clarify...these are (two of) my daughters...bet you can't guess which one is a Star Wars fan.

Holy moly! This is the mother of all pop-up books that not only pops, but also gives information about the heroes, heroines, villains, supporting characters, planets, droids, fighters, etc. from the original series. It doesn't just have one cool pop-up per page, it has about nine of them! Each page has one big one and then several medium and smaller pop-ups off to the side. Like this...

________________________________

I think if I tried to explain this further, I'd probably just mess it up, so if you have any Star Wars fans in your house, just click here for a video on the book and Matthew Reinhart's creative process. Did you click? If so, you have got to be slack-jawed in amazement.

Along with giant pop-ups of the Millenium Falcon, Mos Eisley, and much more, the piece de resitance is a Darth Vader mask that allows you to glimpse Vader's face before the mask is sealed. On the same page, and this is Sophie's favorite part, are smaller Luke and Vader pop-ups that hold their own glowing light-sabers. Here's a picture (for those of you who didn't click on the video):

I'm not even a fan(atic) and I am so impressed by this book. If you have a Star Wars fan in your house or family, this is a necessary purchase. If you aren't swimming in Star Wars love, but still impressed by the pop-ups, don't despair! Matthew Reinhart has quite a few others:

Encyclopedia Mythologica: Gods & Heroes

Encyclopedia Mythologica: Fairies & Magical Creatures

Encyclopedia Mythologica: Dragons & Monsters

Encyclopedia Prehistorica : Sharks & Other Sea Monsters

Encyclopedia Prehistorica : Mega-Beasts

and more!

My Rating: 5 Stars

Sum it up: A must have for the young Star Wars fan in your life!

The Man Who Couldn't Eat - Jon Reiner

2011-12-13T07:00:00.001-08:00

Summary: “I’m a glutton in a greyhound’s body, a walking contradiction, in the grip of the one thing I can’t have—food.”

Food is not just sustenance. It is memories, a lobster roll on the beach in Maine; heritage, hot pastrami club with a half-sour pickle; guilty pleasures, a chocolate rum-soaked Bundt cake; identity, vegetarian or carnivore. Food is the sensuality of a ripe strawberry or a pork chop sizzling on the grill. But what if the very thing that keeps you alive, that bonds us together and marks occasions in our lives, became a toxic substance, an inflammatory invader? In this beautifully written memoir, both gut-wrenching and inspiring, award-winning writer Jon Reiner explores our complex and often contradictory relationship with food as he tells the story of his agonizing battle with Crohn’s disease—and the extraordinary places his hunger and obsession with food took him.

The Man Who Couldn’t Eat is an unvarnished account of a marriage in crisis, children faced with grown-up fears, a man at a life-and-death crossroads sifting through his past and his present. And it shows us a tough, courageous climb out of despair and hopelessness. Aided by the loving kindness of family, friends, and strangers and by a new approach to food, Reiner began a process of healing in body and mind. Most of all, he chose life—and a renewed appetite, any way he could manage it, for the things that truly matter most.
Summary and Cover Photo from Indiebound.org. Book given free for review.

My Review: The Man Who Couldn't Eat is Jon Reiner's personal story about returning home from an uneventful grocery shopping trip only to have his stomach explode. As he struggles to heal after a poorly performed surgery, he is put on TPN. He is sent home to spend months living without eating or drinking - absolutely nothing by mouth. His deep surgical wound is left open and covers his gut. The battle to survive takes Jon on an emotional roller-coaster through denial, anger, depression, and finally acceptance. The book chronicles a full year of medical drama, yet it is so much more than the tale of one man's struggle to survive.

Entering this book allows the reader to journey through Jon's past by means of his taste buds. The delicious descriptions of the food of his past are at such odds with the grotesque descriptions of his present medical procedures. It's the ultimate oxymoron, leaving you salivating and yet nauseated in one swoop.

Much admiration goes to Jon's ability to tell it like it is. He does not play the victim, instead fully admits to his selfish behavior. As his family falls apart, he takes his share of the blame and doe not sugar-coat any of it. Jon's battle becomes not only one to overcome the illness but to also reclaim his family.

In the end, this tale is one of balance - the yin and the yang. The continuous balancing act while juggling the needs of a family, the struggles of a career (or lack there of) and the needs of his health crisis is thoroughly documented. Jon's ability to rediscover what is important in life is inspiring. His tale is laced with religion, but it is his ultimate decision to concur that allows him to reclaim his life. There is no glossing over the facts to bring the story to a neat conclusion. Jon continues to struggle to balance his wants with his needs, especially in terms of food. This conflict leads to a stimulating read.

My Rating: 4 Stars

To Sum It Up: One man's conquest to discover the yin and yang of life through his stomach.

Have You Read These Yet?

2011-12-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading this series to my husband.

I've been begging him to let me for a while and he finally caved.

He loved them!

Yet another situation where I was right.

He really should listen to me more often.

And you know what...

I did it all so I could guarantee myself a date to this.

I'm so excited!

If you haven't read this best selling series, you better get cracking before the movie comes out in March 2012. To get you started, here's a link to Heather's review

of the first book in the series,

The Hunger Games.

I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills. She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Her journals candidly chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle's walls, and her own first descent into love. By the time she pens her final entry, she has "captured the castle"--and the heart of the reader--in one of literature's most enchanting entertainments. (Summary from back of the book and image from http://meezly.blogspot.com/)

My Review: I think half of what makes this story so fascinating is the setting: England, the 1930's, and a decaying castle. The other half is Cassandra. For a seventeen year old, she seemed both mature beyond her years and innocent compared to any seventeen year old I've ever known. It was oh so refreshing! She was such a fun narrator and had a unique outlook on her world. Watching her grow through painful experiences wasn't actually painful because of the way she handled them and viewed/wrote them.

One of my favorite aspects of this story was Cassandra's relationship with sister Rose. It is much like mine and I don't often see that in literature. Because Cassandra and Rose were so different and spent so much of their formative years together, they didn't quarrel much, but loved each other unconditionally. There were times of disagreement, but the girls couldn't help but go back to loving each other. I just love this portrayal of sisters because it's how I believe sisters should really be. Not back-biting, competitive, spiteful, and mean.

I know some are wondering why the lower rating. Honestly, it wasn't a book I couldn't put down. I try to leave a 5 star rating for the books I consume whole. This book, while a great read, with wonderful characters, setting, plot, simply wasn't one that I had to stay up to finish. In fact, the beginning of the book was rather slow going for me. It definitely picked up and engaged me, but again I didn't kill me when I had to walk away and do someting else.

I don't think my middle school students could appreciate this book (with a few exceptions), but any high school student or adult would probably find the book both engaging and satisfying.

Sidenote: I think it's also fun to know that Dodie Smith wrote 101 Dalmatians. Not that it really matters, but it's still an interesting tidbit.

My Rating: 4 stars

For the sensitive reader: Nothing to offend here. Feel free to start reading asap.
Sum it up: Journal writing at its best from a teen you wouldn't mind meeting.

The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

2011-12-07T07:00:00.001-08:00

Summary: A poignant tale about the life and labors of a Chinese farmer during the sweeping reign of the country's last emperor. (Summary from amazon.com - Image from www.fantasticfiction.co.uk )

My Review: I’ve been in what I would call an “intellectual reading” slump lately, as is evidenced by the startling amount of children’s and YA fiction that has been posting the last several months. If you missed the post a few days ago, I am dealing with some pretty brutal morning sickness (along with a few other reviewers), and now the flu, and I find it difficult to work up the motivation to move around and, say, feed my children, let alone type something coherent and respectable.

Recently (and by “recently” I mean several years ago) a good friend recommended one of her favorite classics, The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. I picked up a copy immediately, set in on my to-read shelf, and there it has sat languishing, hoping that I would finally get up the nerve to read a classic, because -- let's face it -- sometimes they are really boring. The other day, in a fit of I-must-read-something-grown-up-if-it-kills-me, I began reading it, and instantly knew that I had found something worth writing about – something that overcame both my nausea, exhaustion, and my fear of classics, and transported me to an entirely different time and place.

The Good Earth is an undeniable classic, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a brilliant work of literary fiction. It tells the story of Wang Lung, a simple farmer, and his newly acquired wife O-lan as they struggle to scratch out a meager existence on the land where he was born. As time passes, Wang Lung, his wife, and children are forced to flee south to avoid crushing famine, and beg for handouts in a sprawling city. But always Wang Lung yearns to return to the land, that he believes is the source of all life, wealth, and happiness. As characters, Wang Lung and O-lan are beautifully written. I was torn between respect, annoyance, and pity for Wang Lung, while his wife earned my undying devotion with her loyalty and patience. I didn’t always agree with the decisions that either of them made, but couldn’t help but be touched by their devotion to the land.

On a broader scale, The Good Earth gives a stunningly realistic depiction of pre-revolutionary farm and family life in China, and a sweeping view of the culture and the political, social, and economic climate during the reign of China’s last emperor. Most of these aspects were absorbing, but I struggled with the more “sexist” aspects of this story, such as the use of the term “slave” and other ideals that reflected the diminished, and even proprietary, status of women in China. This perception of women was evident, and frequently appauling, but eventually I was able to remind myself that life was like that back then, and not get (too) angry at what I saw as a horribly unfair.

Perceived injustices aside, this book is captivating. One chapter at a time was simply not enough. I read it for pure enjoyment, but it could certainly be analyzed for deeper meaning and themes and would be a fabulous book club selection. It’s everything that I love in literature – richly detailed, purposeful, authentic, and beautifully written – but it’s not a book that everyone will love. Readers who are only satisfied with a fast-pace thriller, adventure, or romance, will probably want to look elsewhere. The Good Earth is measured and deliberate; it takes its time, but with such meaning and imagery that it is worth every minute of yours.

My Rating: 5 Stars. (I tossed around the idea of a 4.5, because of all the annoying “slave” talk, but in the end I couldn’t fault the book for historical and ideological accuracy).

For the sensitive reader: Some sexuality, but honestly most of it was so vague I wasn’t always sure what was going on. No language that I can recall but there is some violence and tough situations encountered because of extreme poverty.

Summary: A riveting story of loyalty, betrayal, land, lust, family, greed, and honor and a compelling glimpse into a Chinese culture and history.

Nomansland - Lesley Hauge

2011-12-05T07:00:00.003-08:00

Summary: Sometime in the future, after wars and fires have devastated the earth, a lonely windswept island in the north is populated solely by women. The women have survived against all odds by working hard in their fields. Their lives are tough.

Among these women is a group of teenage Trackers -- expert equestrians and archers -- who are in training to protect their shores from the enemy. The enemy, they've been told, is men.

When these girls come upon a partially buried home form the distant past, they are fascinated by the strange objects -- high-heeled shoes, teen magazines, make up -- found there. What are they to make of these mysterious things, which introduce a world they have never known? And what does it mean for their strict society where friendship is forbidden and rules must be obeyed -- at all costs? (Summary from book - Image from www.tower.com )

My Review: Foundland is an isolated island with a population free from the ravages of war and disease that surround them; they are pure, protected, and entirely female. Men are the enemy. Foundland’s female inhabitants scorn traditional ideas of male patriarchy, beauty, individuality, and self-expression in favor of a more uniform, regulated, and emotionless lifestyle. Keller is a tracker who has grown weary of rigidity of daily life; she chafes under the constant scrutiny of the Leaders, and tries not to notice the shortages, the failing crops, and the discontent that she feels bubbling inside her. When Keller goes on a walkabout to enjoy a little solitude, she stumbles upon a clandestine meeting between one of her own and one of the enemy. When Keller and a group of friends unearth a dwelling from the Old People who lived in the Time Before, they are drawn to the beauty of an unfamiliar culture, with fascinating and devastating results.

Nomansland was an interesting, fast, and entertaining read. It fit fairly well in to the YA genre, even though there were a few instances of profanity and the occasional topless woman (very gym locker room, I assure you). I loved each time Keller or her friends uncovered a new object from the Time Before. Usually it was clear to me, though it wasn’t to the characters, exactly what the object was, and it’s intended use. Their childlike examination of the artifacts they found created an interesting perspective on our own cultural quirks and it was easy to see the ridiculous nature of some of our current obsessions and trends.

While Nomansland might snare more teens than adults with its fairly simple writing style, I still thought it was an entertaining way to pass the afternoon.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars. A fun one-time read.

For the sensitive reader: Four minor instances of profanity (the SH variety), some frank discussion about mating animals and the process of artificial insemination (both purely scientific), and a few topless women (think National Geographic rather than Showgirls)

Sum it up: An easy afternoon of light reading.

The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

2011-12-03T07:00:00.004-08:00

Summary: A warning to all those who come upon this field guide: Go away. Close the book. Put it down. Do not look.

So, run away quickly or join three ordinary kids, Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace,as they enter a world of faeries without leaving this one!   (Summary from the back of the book with some paraphrasing by me - Image from free4dummies.blogspot.com)

My Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide is the first book of five in the Spiderwick Chronicles series. If you have watched the movie by the same name, I think it comprises approximately the first twenty minutes, give or take.

When Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace move into their Aunt Lucinda's run down Victorian house with their mother, they are anything but excited. The house is filthy, falling apart, and something seems to be living in the walls.  It isn't long before strange, unexplainable things start happening. While Mallory finds solace in her fencing, and Simon busies himself with his collection of animals, Jared explores their new home and uncovers a hidden room, and a clue that leads him to a mysterious field guide written by Arthur Spiderwick, that holds truths beyond his wildest imagination.

My kiddos aren't home to help me with this review -- some pesky rule about them having to actually attend school -- but I think that I can safely say that both of them were fans.  At eight and six, sometimes it's hard to find a book they both will like; Kaisa is bored by picture books and Sophie needs the occasional illustration to keep her mind engaged and help her imagination along. The Spiderwick Chronicles was perfect for them. It had enough adventure and mystery to keep my eldest entertained, but also had incredible illustrations on nearly every other page that kept Sophie glued to my side.

At a little over 100 pages (signficiantly less if you take illustrations into account) this book would be an excellent choice for school-age children who feel comfortable reading on their own, or for an extended storytime with parents.  If you have the time and inclination, I've even heard of parents who read the entire series to their children in an afternoon!

In short, my kiddos ate this book up, and were consistently begging me for "just one more chapter, pleeeeeeease!!" We will be starting the second book, The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone, tonight.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader: My kids were fine with the tense moments in this book, but each child (and parent) is different. Proceed with caution and you should be fine.

Sum it up: A promising beginning to a beautifully illustrated series.

Baby Oh Baby Oh Baby

2011-12-01T07:00:00.003-08:00

What feels like hurling,

has pants that don't fit.

and thinks everything smells funny?

...wait for it...

Kari, Natalie, and ME.

No, I'm not kidding.

Kari's expecting #3 on May 14th,
I'm expecting #4 on June 11th

and Natalie's expecting #3 on June 14th.

We did NOT plan this.

I mean, we might have planned our pregnancies, but we definitely didn't plan them together. It was pretty amusing to find out that we'd all been working very hard to act super-efficient and healthy, while secretly hiding the urge to throw up on our keyboards.

In case you're wondering, we all have girls.
No boys. Not one.

It wouldn't hurt to send nice boy vibes our way.
You know, for the good of mankind.
We can't have the human race dying out and all.

So.
The three of us are expecting.
Heather is working on her Masters,
and Emily is restoring a house that its a kabajillion years old
(and undoubtedly haunted).

If we slip in our posting or end up reviewing only fluffy chick lit,
I hope you'll cut us some slack.

We're obviously completely crazy.

Geek Girl Giveaway Winner

2011-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to

Jessica (aka. Crazy Mom)

who just won a copy of

Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett

We'll be contacting you swiftly to arrange shipping.

Thanks so much to Cindy C. Bennett

and her publisher for providing this book to the winner!

Matched - Allie Condie

2011-11-29T07:00:00.001-08:00

Also reviewed by Mindy.

Summary: In the society, officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared follow--between perfection and passion.

Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a class. (Summary from back of the book and image from http://wikimedia.org/)

My Review: I think I went into this book with expectations too high . It was recommended by many different people and many who like the same kinds of books I do. And I just wasn't that impressed. The culprit could be that my students just finished reading The Giver, which to me is the must-read dystopian book for young adults/children. It felt like a knock off of The Giver and The Hunger Games. I loved those books so much that this felt like an imposter. While it's not identical there are too many parallels: choosing spouse (TG), taking pills (TG), choosing jobs (TG), controlling government with sinister people in power (HG), young adult star-crossed lovers/love triangle (HG) and it being a trilogy (both novels, although TG is a companion set, not really a trilogy).

But, that's not to say I didn't enjoy it or finish it. I'm just a bit disappointed. Maybe Crossed will be different or change how I feel. I also wasn't wrapped up in the romance between Cassia and Ky. I don't know why I couldn't feel it/buy in. I just couldn't, which made it all the more difficult to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm sure my students will love it, especially since I've gotten them into this dystopian lit genre now. It just didn't do it for me.

For the sensitive reader: A couple kisses, but nothing to bat an eye at.

Rating: 3.75 stars

Sum it up: Another rehash of the dystopian you-don't-get-to-choose-your-life scenario.

Two Moons of Sera (Vol. 1) - Pavarti K. Tyler

2011-11-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's waterborne line, Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one? (Summary from book - Image from www.fightingmonkeypress.com - Book given free for an honest review)

My Review: Two Moons of Sera is a fantasy/romance novel that is being released in serial format. I was given the first volume for review.

The first volume of Two Moons of Sera is only 76 pages. It can be read (and was) in the bath, as long as you don't mind getting a tad bit pruney. It was easy to read and I enjoyed the basic plot. Serafay is a young girl caught between two very different worlds, drawn to the both of them but labeled an outcast. She lives on with her mother in a deserted cove, until one day she meets an Erdlander that changes everything.

My problem with Two Moons of Sera was not its plot, which I can see being tweaked into a movie or television series. No, my problem is with the writing. It just felt off. I know that's not a very technical term, but it's all I've got. The author's style occasionally felt stilted and undeveloped and lacked the smooth flow that you don't notice in books until it's not there. Also, while I understand the need for Tor and Sera's awkward dialogue, the word "Huh" became really annoying.

Still, this book ended far too soon. It truly is just the beginning of a series and when it ended I wanted to know so much more about the characters and what was going to happen to them. If I had been given the complete story, I probably would have kept reading.

You can visit the author's blog where she is having a month-long (Nov '11) giveaway, purchase Two Moons of Sera from Amazon, or download the ebook on Smashwords.

My Rating: 3 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Not a whole lot to worry about. Some naked swimming, but nothing detailed. It is billed as "all the fun of YA, written for adults" which makes me wonder if things don't get more heated later in the series.

Sum it up: An interesting beginning that could use a little polish.

Crank - Ellen Hopkins

2011-11-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: Life was good
before I
met
the monster

After,
Life
was great.
At
least
for a little
while.

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life. (Summary from back of the book and image from http://commskills10pd1.wikispaces.com/Crank)

My Review: I read this in a day, total. And before you're too impressed, despite it's 537 pages the book is written in poetry format. It reads FAST. Combine the subject matter with Hopkin's writing style and it's one you can't put down. I cannot imagine how quickly Kristina became Bree, although from everything I've ever heard or read about meth, it's an accurate portrayal. For most it only takes one time and you're hooked hard.

Completely heart-breaking is the only way I could describe what I imagine her mother went through. I read this book dreading more and more that my daughters would ever, could ever come in contact with this life destroying drug. Kristina's fall from normalcy into drug induced insanity was so abrupt, so drastic I left the book honestly depressed. I do want to pick up the next two in the series just to see where it leads.

Hopkin's admits that this character is based on her daughter and that the child mentioned at the end is also her grandson. I feel I must give her credit: she didn't sugar coat her role in the story. Kristina painted a picture of her mother the way I've heard teens describe their mothers--and it was not flattering. Hopkins was not trying to save face when she wrote this story--it's all the ugly details plain for everyone to see.

I feel hesitant to recommend this to just anyone, especially teens. If it comes across as the red-flag-warning that I deemed it to be, I would say everyone should read it. But, you never know. Some kids may be enticed by the wild world, the highs and lows, the graphic relationships, the broken people.

I also feel I need to mention that there is a rape scene brought on by Kristina's overwhelming need for meth. It's painful, raw, real. Again, my worst nightmare would be for my daughters to come in contact with this drug. It's horrifying.

Rating: 4.25 stars

For the sensitive reader: Not a YA book to read lightly. Swear words, rape scene (although not graphic), drug use, you name it and for the most part it's there. Although I feel it's written in way of warning.

Sum it up: I hope I never, ever have to face this real-life nightmare up close.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

from all of us at Reading For Sanity!

May you stuff yourselves with turkey and read lots of books.

Wait! Who are we kidding?

You know you're going to fall asleep.

Ramona the Pest - Beverly Cleary

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: It is the greatest day of Ramona's life. She is in kindergarten and she loves her teacher, Miss Binney. She likes a little boy named Davy so much she wants to kiss him. She's fascinated by Susan's beautiful reddish brown curls that bounce like springs when she runs. Ramona is thrilled about all the new things to see.

So how in the world does Ramona get in trouble? Why is she sitting on a bench when the rest of the class is playing Gray Duck? Why does Davy run as fast as he can when Ramona comes near him? And how does Ramona disrupt the whole class during rest time? Well, anyone who knows Ramona knows that she is never a pest on purpose.

My Review: Ramona the Pest, the first book in the well known Ramona Series, is told from the perspective of a young girl named Ramona Quimby, who is just starting kindergarten. Make no mistake, Ramona Quimby is the original Junie B. Jones; she’s incurably curious, unfailingly honest, stubborn to a fault, and a bit of an unintentional pest. No matter how hard she tries to be good, Ramona just can’t seem to stop herself from tugging on Susan’s lovely curls, chasing Davy around the playground, and getting herself in all sorts of trouble. She loves many things about going to school, but the best thing about kindergarten is her wonderful teacher. No one can even compare to Miss Binney.

We accidentally read Ramona Quimby, Age 8, the third book in the series, before this one. Oops. I recommend reading them it order, of course, but it was nice to see that Ramona grows up in the next couple of books. In this one, she really is kind of a pest. She’s cute and funny, of course, but also does things she shouldn’t and makes great big loud noisy fusses when she doesn’t get her way. I kept having to stop and say to my wide-eyed children, “Wow, she really should have done that, should she?!” However, most of these incidences were quickly followed with the appropriate consequence, so I think that it all worked out.

My children and I enjoyed reading about Ramona’s adventures and escapades – my personal favorites were when she got stuck in the mud in her new rain boots and ended up declaring her love for her reluctant rescuer, Henry Huggins. The illustrations, found every few pages, were adorable and also kept my Ramona look-(and-act)-a-like (aka Sophie) from running off. Overall, I thought it was a wonderfully engaging book, and I enjoyed the opportunity to read it aloud to my children.

My Kids’ Thoughts: Sophie, age five, said, “I want you to read it all over again! Please Mama, please!”

Her favorite part was “The whole thing!!” but she didn’t like “the part when the kids who were in school were saying ‘Hey, look at Ramona!’ when she was stuck in the mud.”

Kaisa, age eight, said, “I liked it when she dropped out of kindergarten and the chapter about the baddest witch in the world because her mask was kind of scary and funny at the same time. And I liked it how she went up and kissed the boy (when she was wearing the scary mask) because it scared the boy that she kissed. I also liked it when she lost her tooth.

I didn’t like it when Beezus was laughing at Ramona. You should read the book because it’s a really good book.”

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader: A few scattered uses of the what my children call "the 'S' word" (Stupid) and some general five-year-old wickedness.

Sum it up: Ramona is a pest, but a cute one. She’s the original Junie B. Jones.

Shakespeare's Secret - Elise Broach

2011-11-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: A missing diamond. A 500-year-old necklace. A mystery dating back to the time of William Shakespeare.

Named after a character from a Shakespearean play, Hero anticipates having a rough time starting the sixth grade at her new school. She isn't at all interested in this literary connection--not until she finds that there may be a diamond hidden in her new house, and that it may hold the key to the mystery of Shakespeare's true identity. All of a sudden, her name is very interesting and so is Danny Cordova, the most popular boy in school (and the cutest) who seems intent on uncovering the mystery with Hero. (Summary from back of the book and image from http://us.macmillan.com/)

My Review: It's never easy being the new girl; combine that with an unusual first name and, unless you're a ham for the spotlight, it's a recipe for ostracism. Hero is an underdog. Thankfully she's not so hung up on her lack of social life that it prevents her from developing her own personality. Shadowed by her older sister's beauty and popularity, embarrassed by her quirky parents, Hero takes on each new school and situation all on her own. At least in this new home she found an interesting neighbor and a mystery to unravel.

Hero's pursuits match her with an unexpected partner in crime--one who ruins her reputation simply by the disbelief that Danny would associate with her. Hero's desire to fit in, but remain true to herself, drives her actions as well as the plot.

There's not a whole lot of plot development, but the history mixed in and the growth in Hero's character make the story an engaging and satisfying read. According to the author, the history in the book is almost all accurate (she does elucidate the details that are not). This alone makes the book intriguing for me. I'm not sure my students would understand the significance of the claims or the historical figures themselves, but as an adult I'm glad they're being exposed to these characters in some way.

It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down and since the plot was a bit weak I couldn't quite give it 4 stars. Overall, it was a nice, clean, interesting read.

Rating: 3.75 stars

For the sensitive reader: Nothing to be worried about. Squeaky clean.

Sum it up: Laced with history, combined with some life lessons makes this an enjoyable early YA read.

Beauty Queens - Libba Bray

2011-11-19T07:00:00.006-08:00

Summary: The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program -- or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan -- or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up? Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. (Summary from book - Image from www.goodreads.com)

My Review: This book was ranked eighth on the Indie Kid's Next List for Summer 2011, so what I'm about to say might shock you...

Eighty-six pages. That's all I could handle. I can't remember the last time I was so annoyed by a single book. I wanted to stop reading by the third page. I wanted to poke my own eye out with a pencil by the sixth. So, the fact that I made it to eighty-six without any serious bodily injury is a miracle. Go ahead -- be impressed by my perseverance.

Basically, this book is an absurdly jumbled attempt at cleverness that, for me, fell far short of its mark. I realize that the author was trying to be six kinds of slick with her flippancy. Ordinarily, I’m all for the mockery of beauty pageants and the stupidity of popular culture, but, in this instance, I was so annoyed by the vapid characters and senseless plot that I didn’t care to wait around for any insightful commentary, sexy pirates, or stunning messages that might have been waiting in the wings. The odds of eye-poking were just too high.

My Rating: 1 Star ( I didn't just hate what I read of this book -- I loathed it. )

For the sensitive reader: The first 86 pages contained some swearing, crass discussion of sexual matters, and I'm pretty sure one of the contestants is a guy...or was a guy at one point.

Sum it up: Ugh. So annoying. Eighty-six pages of my life I will never get back.

Geek Girl + GIVEAWAY - Cindy C. Bennett

2011-11-17T07:00:00.001-08:00

Hey! You. Yeah, you. We'll be giving this book away, so you might want to pay attention.

Summary: "I think I could turn that boy bad? My two best friends--my only two friends, really--follow my gaze and laugh.

"Trevor Hoffman?" Beth scoffs. "No way, Jen."

"I bet I could," I say, shrugging.

"Why him?" Beth asks. "Why not any of the other nerds sitting there with him?"

"Because," I say slowly, "he isn't your typical run-of-the-mill geek. Trevor Hoffman is different. He would be a little more difficult to take down--more of a challenge, you know?"

Jen's life of rebelling and sneaking out is growing stale. In an effort to combat her boredom, Jen makes a bet to turn Trevor, a nice little geek, into a "bad boy." She is immediately pulled into Trevor's world of sci-fi movies, charity work, and even--ugh!--bowling. Unexpectedly, Jen discovers that hanging out with Trevor isn't so bad after all. But when Trevor finds out about the wager, all bets are off. (Book given free for review. Summary from back of the book and image from publisher.)

My Review: I don't think I've ever given a book that was given to me free for review 5 stars. I'm breaking that record today. I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. While having our regular Silent Friday Reading day with my students I kept finding myself so absorbed in the book that I forgot to remind the kids to clean up before the bell rang. Yes, I was that absorbed--which really is saying something because even slight twitching of my students during Silent Friday distracts me...teachers have a hard time turning off their second set of eyes and ears.

Jen is painted so very realistically. I felt like reading her story was like reading many of my students' stories, their journal entries in class. Teaching at a school of poverty, with many foster care kids, I see this stuff all too often. Her anger, her rejection of all things good, her pessimism, her hatred of people she cannot relate to, her lack of self-esteem, all spot on. Even her desire to defile Trevor was authentic.

Bennett does a masterful job of peeling back the layers slowly, or reeling you in and helping you understand Jen and actually take her side. She also does a masterful job of depicting a truly good person in Trevor. I think it would actually be harder to depict a guileless person than it is to depict a person with serious flaws. Yet, she pulls it off. What makes it even better is that she still makes him human, gives him real failings, ones you could believe someone as good as he is truly has.

The love story should also be of note. I'm not the gushy type of girl who loves to read romance, but this story took me in. I enjoyed the playful banter, the clean relationship, and even the demolition of their relationship when the truth unfolds. I found myself with tears slowly rolling down my cheeks and I wished for both characters that the pain wouldn't have to be--not many stories make me actually cry. I'm telling you, I really liked this book.

I think my favorite aspect to the story is the message that your past doesn't define you, that change is possible, and that you should never judge a person based on an outward appearance especially during their teenage years. I loved Jen's transformation and how Bennett made her so easy to relate to and like. I've never been a Goth girl, I don't pretend to understand her upbringing from a personal perspective, but watching it for eight years now I do believe Bennett created a believeable story and one that I'd gladly have on my classroom shelves.

Do pick this up. It's a great read.

For sensitive readers: Nothing to offend here. Jen's tragic past is disturbing, but without it you can't truly believe her anger and damage.

Rating: 5 Stars

Sum it up: A spot on read depicting a broken girl learning to trust and love.

Visit the author's blog, her website, or read more reviews of Geek Girl on Cedar Fort's blog tour.

___________________________

~~WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?~~

~~To enter:~~

~~Simply comment with your contact information. That's it. Pretty easy, huh?~~

~~If you'd like an extra entry (leave a SEPARATE COMMENT):~~

~~Spread the word! Post about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or some other~~ social networking site. That's it. Also very easy. The more you link -- and you can link daily -- the more entries you get. Just be sure to leave a separate comment for each. We are still pretty old school.

~~Best of luck!~~

Eligibility & Rules: This giveaway is open internationally and will end on November 30th at 11:59 PM. If the winner lives outside of North America, they will receive an e-copy of the book. North American residents will receive a print copy (unless they would prefer an e-copy). The winner will be chosen randomly, posted publicly, and contacted swiftly to arrange delivery. Reading For Sanity reserves the right to invalidate entries that do not adhere to contest rules.

Farmers' Market Desserts - Jennie Schacht

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: This guide, full of gorgeous color photography, will walk you through your local farmers' market in search of the most delicious fruits, freshest dairy products, and seasonal, regional specialties. . . to create the ultimate desserts. Don't know how to choose the best peach in the pile? Worried that strawberries aren't yet in season? Can't tell the difference between a pluot and a plum? Farmers' Market Desserts supplies the recipes, facts, and tips that will build your skills and knowledge at the market and in your kitchen.

A Plum Tarte Tartin captures the musky, juicy end of August like nothing else. Orange Cupcakes with White Chocolate-Orange Buttercream are the perfect, hand-held party sweet for your holiday fete. Put locally grown dried cherries to use in a batch of Cherry-Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Farmers' Market Desserts will thrill you with simple, fresh flavors, all the while guiding you to shop and eat sustainably. Summary from book jacket. Image from Chronicle.com.

My Review: I grabbed a copy of this book out of a clearance bin at Borders when it was taking its last breaths on earth. Talk about a total score. I don't typically gravitate toward dessert-only cookbooks, but the fact that it was focused on fresh fruit and had a variety of recipes for all seasons make me curious. After closer inspection I found dozens of tips on how to pick out the freshest produce as well as storage recommendations and FYI sections about little known products (like quark).

I tried out (and adored) the Ginger-Pear Skillet Cake and the Meyer Lemon-Goat Cheese Soufflé Cakes which I've posted on my recipe blog. (Just follow the links.) There are literally recipes for every season and like the summary says, it shows you how to shop and eat more seasonally. The author also incorporates a handful of vegetables and foods that aren't typically found in sweets into her desserts. Cornmeal Cake with Fresh Corn and Berries? Yes, please.

I appreciate that, although this is a dessert cookbook, the author has a light hand with the refined sugar and relies more on the sweetness from the fruit. This book is proof that you don't have to dive off the deep end of indulgence to enjoy dessert.

My Rating: 5 stars

Sum It Up: A fresh, delicious collection of dessert recipes for all seasons.

Chronicle Books is giving away two copies of this cookbook! Visit the review post for Farmers' Market Desserts on Perry's Plate for details! (Jumping through hoops not required.)

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - Katherine Howe

2011-11-13T07:00:00.001-08:00

Summary: Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem, she can't refuse. As she is drawn deeper into the mysteries of the family house, Connie discovers an ancient key within a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains a yellowing fragment of parchment with a name written upon it: Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest -- to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact of singular power: a physick book, its pages a secret repository for lost knowledge.

As the pieces of Deliverance's harrowing story begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the long-ago witch trials, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem's dark past than she could have ever imagined. (Summary from book - Image from findnsave.miamiherald.com )

My Review: I’ve been sitting on this review for about a week (that means I finished the book but didn’t review it right away). It seems I’m suffering from writer’s block, or at least the inability to express myself in any meaningful or articulate way. So I’m not going to try (too hard, anyway). Please forgive me and bear with me, because this could get dicey.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane is a historical fiction novel, set in Salem, Massachusetts, and brimming with intrigue, romance, magic, and historical detail. In 1991, Connie Goodwin is a graduate student who is supposed to be working on her dissertation when she stumbles across a mysterious key in her late grandmother’s house. The key reveals the name of an accused witch who was rumored to possess an ancient spell book. Connie is convinced she has found the perfect focus of her dissertation and becomes obsessed with tracking down the book’s whereabouts. Unfortunately, there are those who will stop at nothing to keep her from uncovering the truth. With every chapter, this story slips back in time to the late 1600s, just before the Salem witch trials, and follows the lives of of a line of mysteriously gifted women and the book they hand down through the generations.

I had the opportunity to amble around Salem, MA a few years ago while visiting a friend (okay, it is RFS reviewer, Emily…please don’t camp outside her house). Her hometown is quiet, gorgeous, and positively overflowing with historical sites. I learned a lot about the history of the area, ate clam chowder, stood on the North Bridge, dipped my toes in the Atlantic, and even visited a graveyard filled with accused witches. While I don’t profess to be an expert on the Salem witch trials, I closed this book feeling like I had been there for everything. The author brought her setting and characters to life through her talent for writing and what I can only assume was a great deal of research. Many of her fictional characters were inspired by real people, associated with real historical figures, and involved in actual historical events. Each page left me mesmerized by life in the 1600s, watching events unfold, or in 1991, with Connie, obsessively digging for the truth.

My one complaint about this book, and the reason I can’t quite give it 5 stars, is that it was fairly predictable. I saw a lot of the “twists” long before they happened. However, this is a very good book despite its predictability. The history of the area, the house, and the lives of the women who lived there were absolutely fascinating. I loved reading along as Connie uncovered bits and pieces of the past, and it seemed that each journey back into the late 1600s revealed even more of the story. As for the ending and the more romantic, dangerous, and magical elements of the book? Well, I won’t spoil things for you, but I think as long as you can let go of the tiniest sliver of reality and embrace the unexplainable, you’ll enjoy it as well. Overall, I think that most readers will be captivated by The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Might have been one or two uses of profanity, but they barely registered. A disturbing description of a physical exam given to accused Salem witches, and some violence surrounding their executions.

Sum it up: A fascinating step back in time.

Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me - Lisa Papadermetriou

2011-11-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Summary: Allie Kimball and her best friend, Tamara Thompson, have been looking forward to starting sixth grade all summer. But sixth grade isn't turning out to be what Allie expected at all. She discovers that middle school is a different world, requiring a whole new vocabulary. The halls of middle school are full of strange new beasts, like glommers--girls who never go anywhere alone--and norks--a combination of a nerd and a dork. Now Allie has to define herself before she gets lost in the jungle of sixth grade. The question is, where does Allie fit in? (Summary from back of the book and image from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/)

My Review: Middle school is painful, at least it is (or was) for most of us. One of the most painful aspects of transitioning from elementary school to middle school is that at eleven years old you can't foresee the the changes that are coming, and not knowing is the worst part. If you did have some sixth sense that awkward and sometimes lonely days are in your future, you still don't have the life experience to know the depth of your torment. Allie's experience is no exception.

What I liked about this story is not that it's an accurate portrayal of how tough going into middle school can be, but how it shows how to survive. Allie stays involved. She doesn't completely shut down and close herself off from the world. She keeps moving, even though she feels so betrayed and alone, she doesn't wallow in her sorrow. While this isn't the most literary book, it is a great narrative that I know my students could relate to.

Rating: 4 Stars

Sum it up: A cute, middle school, growing up experience.

Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Also reviewed by Heather.

Summary: "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."

Working as a lady's companion, the heroine of Rebecca learns her place. Life begins to look very bleak until, on a trip to the South of France, she meets Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower whose sudden proposal of marriage takes her by surprise. She accepts, but whisked from glamorous Monte Carlo to the ominous and brooding Manderley, the new Mrs de Winter finds Max a changed man. And the memory of his dead wife Rebecca is forever kept alive by the forbidding Mrs Danvers.

Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the Other Woman. (Summary from back of the book and image from lifewithbooks.com)

My Review: This is the second time I've read Rebecca and I liked it better the first time. As an adult I found the writing left something to be desired. It was ok; I'm not saying it's poor writing, but it wasn't great. In my eyes, it's no Jane Eyre--my favorite book; feel free to argue all you like, but you won't change my opinion. As a thirteen year old reading this book, I remember being enthralled. The suspense, the Gothic feel, the mystery, the twist, all added up to a great read. I think it also makes a difference when reading it a second time that you already know the ending. Anti-climactic to say the least.

I have been told by a couple people that if you read the first couple chapters after finishing the book it ends more satisfyingly, keeping with the sequence of events. I don't know if that matters to me, but I mention it for those who might read this in the future. I was also told that du Maurier was the Nora Roberts of her time, and this actually made me feel less judgmental of the book. If you're churning out book after book, I can only imagine that the writing can become repetitive and at times lack creative thought. The plot is fantastic, full of twists and turns, but the writing was not. Repeatedly you'd see the phrase, "Yes," I said. The characters dialogue left much to be desired at times.

I believe this is a book that every avid reader should read once. The storyline itself is enough to recommend it. It's clean, it's suspenseful, it's got a great twist and overall is spoken of enough that it's a good frame of reference for other novels.

Another note: the movie made by Alfred Hitchcock follows the book very closely (with only two differences in the ending, albeit significant changes). I highly recommend watching the movie once you've read the book or if you know you'll never read it but want a condensed version.

Rating: 4 stars--for the plot and overall storyline.

Sum it up: A more recent version of a gothic love story.

Searching RFS

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hey RFSers,

I wanted you to know that I've scrapped the "Search By" option on the sidebar. Now you can search our review archives by Title, Author, and Rating by using the tabs up top. You'll still find the option to search by genre (or category) located in the right sidebar. I hope this works for you, because it will make my life a heck of a lot easier. And really, isn't that what it's all about?!

Happy Reading,
Mindy

Froggy Boots Go With Everything - Jill Zabkar Martin

2011-11-07T07:00:00.001-08:00

Summary: In Froggy Boots Go With Everything, Martin turns a boy’s favorite fashion accessory into the prop that fuels his imagination as he wears his froggy boots for one adventure after another. Encouraging imaginative play as it blurs the boundaries between fashion and fun, this sturdy little board book is a delightful read for everyone. (Summary from publishing company - Image from www.froggyboots.com - Book given free for an honest review)

My Review: When my daughter Sophie was two years old, we found the most adorable frog costume for her for Halloween. She loved it and took to calling it Frog. Original, I know, but she was two so we let it slide. At bedtime, she would ask for Frog and her devotion to it was so adamant that it functioned as her sleeper for the next year until she grew out of it (and the zipper broke). If you have kids, then you probably have a similar story about that one item, be it blankie, lovey, or froggy boots, that your kid simply could not live without.

Froggy Boots Go With Everything has eighteen pages of colorful illustrations(by Kirsten G. Van Mourick), sixteen ideas for froggy-booted fun, and a picture list of extra things to look for in the back. Each page showcases a location, activity, or imaginary adventure that a young boy has in his beloved green froggy boots. He searches for pirate’s treasure, plays at a friends house, visits the zoo, explores the moon, takes a bath, plays cowboy, and much more. Young children will love the pictures and especially enjoy searching for the small green frog hidden on each page.

My favorite moment with this book was finding my toddler sitting quietly on the couch studying each picture before bringing it to me to read aloud. As a board book, it was easy for her little fingers to turn the pages and it withstood the standard toddler-inflicted abuse that most books (left within reach) receive in our home. Overall, I’m quite pleased to add it to my childrens' book collection.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Sum it up: Froggy-booted fun.

The Season - Sarah MacLean

2011-11-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra Stafford doesn't fit into the world of Regency Longdon -- she's strong-willed, sharp-tongued, and she absolutely loathes dress fittings. Unfortunately, her mother has been waiting years for Alex to be old enough to take part in the social whirlwind of a London season so she can be married off to someone safe, respectable, wealthy, and almost certainly boring. But Alex is far more fascinated by adventure than romance.

Somehow between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get entangled in her biggest scrape yet. It's a mystery brimming with espionage, murder, suspicion, and love. Romance and danger fill the air in this juicy paperback, as this year's season begins! (Summary from book - Image from www.scholastic.com)

My Review: I really needed this book. I have been dealing with a lot lately and it was only a matter of time before I ended up uber-stressed, and desperate for some light, romantic reading. I know you what you’re thinking. You’re looking at the cover (or at least, now you are) thinking, “Wow, this book looks incredibly shallow.” And you are right. It was shallow. It was also utterly predictable, mindless, and I loved every minute of it. It was like ice cream for my brain. Rocky Road. Or, perhaps, Midnight Truffle…in a waffle cone. Nom nom nom!

Alexandra Stafford has been thrown headlong into London society by her marriage-minded mother and she’ s not the least bit pleased. She and her two friends, Ella and Vivian, would rather die from spinsterhood than marry a man for his wealth or title, and they are determined to make it through the London season without garnering a single proposal from the boring, stuff-shirted dandies that prance around London. Together the unconventional trio takes the season by storm, until their curiosity gets the better of them and they end up embroiled in espionage and murder.

There are a kabajazillion romance novels out there that will let you escape reality and indulge in a little starry-eyed fantasy, but very few of them manage to do so without exposing an incredible amount of skin. The Season sizzles quite nicely without crossing any lines. It’s not Pride & Prejudice clean – and thank heavens for that – because I think we can all agree it would have been nice if Darcy and Elizabeth had enjoyed a least had one good clandestine make-out session. Much like Elizabeth, love sneaks up on Alexandra. Lord Blackmoor stole my heart the second he called her governess a “cabbage head” and I enjoyed their flirtatious banter and heated arguments.

Believe me, there’s plenty to criticize if you want to start comparing this book to award-winning literary fiction, but I decided to check my brain at the door (the one eating the all that delicious ice cream) and had a really good time. If you like clean romance novels and have the ability to relax and read without obsessing over plot predictability, character depth, etc., then you’ll probably welcome this thoroughly entertaining escapist YA romance.

Side(sad)note: As far as I can tell, The Season is MacLean’s only YA romance novel. She has no plans to write a sequel, though there is definitely room for expansion into a series, and her adult novels seem to be a bit more risque in nature (if the half-clad women on the covers are any indication).

My Rating: 4.25 Stars. (I really want to give this book 5 stars, because I really did enjoy reading it, but in a literary sense, I just can’t do it.)

For the sensitive reader: I can’t think of anything objectionable except the fact that Alex occasionally referred to her romantic interest as her “savior,” when I really think “rescuer” would have worked just as well. Personally, that word has a more spiritual meaning for me, so it was a little distracting when used in the romantic context.

Sum it up: Ice cream for my brain! Nom nom nom!

An Opportunity

2011-11-03T07:00:00.001-07:00

It's about time I reviewed something around here, don't you think?

Me, too. And I will. I promise.

But today I'd like to direct you over to RFS reviewer Natalie's other blog Perry's Plate.

She's doing something pretty awesome, and I think you should take a look.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: Love it or Loathe it GIVEAWAY WINNER

2011-11-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to

" HEATHER! ",

winner of our Twilight Saga: Love it or Loathe it Giveaway.

(We'll be contacting you swiftly to get your Love it or Loathe it list and arrange shipping.)

Didn't win? Keep reading!!

We have a little something for you anyway. We're cool like that.

Visit www.cafepress.com and fill your cart with goodies.

If you enter the coupon code TWI15 at checkout, you'll receive 15% off all purchases over $40! (Shhh... even stuff that isn't Twilight or Anti-Twilight related!)

Be sure to pick up an awesome book bag or any one of their amazing customizable gifts.

Christmas is coming, you know!

In case you need them, here are the links for theTwilight Saga LOVERS and the LOATHERS.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here at Reading For Sanity, we don't seem to be big on the horror genre

-- unless you count sparkly vampires, which I really really don't.

However, I did manage to dig up a few spooky recommendations.

For some zombified horror, try

The Reapers are the Angels

or the slightly less graphic, more romantic

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

If it's vampires you're into...well, there is the Twilight Series.

I mean, Breaking Dawn was pretty darn scary.

But I refuse to link it because no one

should ever be called Renesme.

So there.

Your children might also like this a bunny with vampiric tendencies

Bunnicula

If that isn't enough for you, then I suggest you head on over to AbeBooks and check out their list of Gothic Horror recommendations.

PS. Today is the last day to enter our Twilight: Love it or LOATHE it Giveaway. Better hurry up!

The Snowman's Revenge - Mark Smythe

2011-10-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summary: If you were left out in the cold snow all by yourself, would you be mad? Of course you would! Well, this snowman is out for revenge, especially after he sees those kids in the nice warm house, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate! So, let's see whay happens in this delightful story, nicely flowing with rhymed verse, beautifully illustrated and quite humorous indeed. So loveable, it's sure to be an instant favorite and a timeless classic with "kids" of all ages. (Summary from book - Image from amazon.com - Book given free for an honest review)

My Review: When I was contacted to review The Snowman's Revenge, I accepted right away. My children love the idea of snowmen coming to life. This particular Snowman doesn't appreciate being stuck out in the cold when the kids are inside having cookies and drinking hot chocolate, so he decides to get his revenge by sneaking into the house and, eventually, up to the children's bedrooms. Thankfully he melts before he is able to do any serious damage.

So. Kind of creepy. At least that's what I thought. My children didn't seem to be bothered by it.

Personally, since a snowman is made out of snow, you'd think he would be perfectly happy out in the cold. Apparently this snowman isn't very self-aware. I don't think I would have minded the overall creepiness of the story, except that it ended rather abruptly. He just melts.

My biggest complaint with The Snowman's Revenge was that the rhythm felt the slightest bit off, especially towards the end, as though some sections had too many syllables and others not enough. The prose wasn't bad, but I wasn't impressed either. Rhyming books should do more than just rhyme - they should flow smoothly, with words that enhance that flow, and this one just felt awkward.

While this book is colorfully illustrated and creative, when it comes to snowman stories, I'm going stick with the rhythmical, imaginative, and decidedly uncreepy Snowmen at Night.

My Kids' Thoughts: (Kaisa, age 7) "It was good, but it didn't have a happy ending like I thought it would. I wanted the snowman to scare the children!" (Sophie, age 5) "I loved it so much I could poop my pants!" (Seriously. That's what she said! )

Our Rating: 2.75 Stars (3.5 Stars from my kids. 2 Stars from me.)

Sum It Up: Creative but creepy.

The School of Night - Louis Bayard

2011-10-27T07:00:00.005-07:00

Summary: In the late sixteenth century, five brilliant scholars gather under cloak of darkness to discuss God, politics, astronomy, and the black arts. Known as the School of Night, they meet in secret to avoid the wrath of Queen Elizabeth. But one of the men, a scientist named Thomas Harriot, has secrets of his own.

In modern-day Washington D.C., disgraced Elizabethan scholar Henry Cavendish has been hired by the ruthless antiquities collector Bernard Styles to find a letter stolen by Henry's closest friend, the late Alonzo Wax. Dating from the 1600s, the missing letter just may hold the clue to a hidden treasure.

Joining Henry in his search is Clarissa Dale, a mysterious woman who suffers from visions that only Henry can understand. In short order, the pair find themselves stumbling through a secretive world of ancient perils, caught up in a deadly plot and ensnared in the tragic legacy of a forgotten genius. (Summary from book - Image from www.louisbayard.com - Book given free for an honest review)

My Review: The School of Night begins as two stories, separated by nearly four hundred years, that slowly intertwine as the tale progresses. It is adorned with an interesting array of characters that span the centuries: Henry Cavendish, the disgraced academic; Clarissa Dale, a beautiful woman consumed by visions of the past; Thomas Harriot, an unrenowned but brilliant philosopher, Margaret Crookenshanks, a servant turned research assistant with a keen mind and a thirst for knowledge; Bernard Styles, a ruthless antiquities collector determined to retrieve his property regardless of cost, and a few other characters that I don't intend to spoil for you.

I enjoyed delving into Bayard's world of intrigue, antiquities, and Elizabethan scholars. His story was fairly engaging to the average reader, but I do think it would be better appreciated by someone more versed in philosophy, 17th century history, Shakespearian poetry, and alchemy. Although some of the subject matter felt past my depth, I didn't mind wading through the intellectual bits to reach the story's shallower, more adventurous waters.

The School of Night reminded me ever so faintly of The Da Vinci Code; it used a variety of academic disciplines -- history, archaeology, philosophy, science, religion, etc. -- to create a deeply scintillating blend of mystery, romance, danger, and intrigue. While I wouldn't say that I was equally captivated by all parts of the story, there were several shocking developments towards the end of the this book that I am delighted to say I did not see coming. Personally, I think the ones that leave you reeling are the best. Consider me "reeled."

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Occasionally crass language with a bit more profanity and sexual situations (sometimes glossed over) than I am comfortable reading. Also, some people might be offended by the atheistic undertones, though I was not.

Sum it up: An interesting tale of intrigue.

The Pout-Pout Fish - Deborah Diesen

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summary: The Pout-Pout Fish tells the tale of Mr. Fish, who spends his days with his fish-face stuck in a permanent pout. Though his pals try to cheer him up, they have little success. But as the story swims along, an unexpected friend arrives on the scene and helps Mr. Fish to discover that glum isn't really his destiny. (Summary and Image from www.deborahdiesen.com)

My Review: I loved The Pout-Pout Fish – a book about a pouty little fish who thinks because his mouth is pouty that he’s made to sulk his life away. He mopes around, spreading his dreary-wearies all over the ocean until he meets a fish whose surprise kiss gives him a different perspective.

The Pout-Pout Fish is the perfect read aloud children’s book. It’s a rhythmic, rhyming, and adorable read, with creative, colorful illustrations and surprise humor that will fascinate children and entertain adults. It’s a book I don’t mind reading again and again and my children certainly take advantage.

My Kids’ Thoughts: Sophie said, “It’s my very favorite book in the whole entire world!!! BLUB BLUUUUB BLUUUUUUB!!!!”

Kaisa said, “When the fish gets kissed by the other fish it is weird. He’s probably a pout-pout fish because he doesn’t have a girlfriend. My favorite part was when he thought he had a pout-pout face but it was actually a kiss-kiss face. I liked it, but it’s a kid book -- not for my age.” (She's eight.)

My Rating: 5 Stars (for a children's book)

Sum it up: Adorable, creative, colorful and fun to read.

The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken - Mari Passananti

2011-10-23T07:00:00.003-07:00

Summary: Zoe Clark thinks her world will implode when her fiance dumps her on the eve of their splashy wedding. After nearly a decade with her college sweetheart, Zoe feels like a teenager about to be eaten alive by the New York dating scene. And her problems don't end there. Zoe works a less-than-ideal job, managing other people's careers while her own ambitions wither.

Enter Oscar Thornton. He's handsome, charming, attentive, and rich--the perfect boyfriend. But does he harbor a dark secret? Or will Zoe torpedo her newfound happiness by indulging a far fetched suspicion?

The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken tells a story of a young woman who sets out to find a man to solve her problems. Instead she finds herself facing her own shortcomings, testing her oldest friendships and realizing that she has the power to make herself happy.

Packed with snappy dialogue and playful wit, The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken will strike a chord with any woman who's ever allowed herself to think, My life would be perfect, if I could just meet the right guy. (Summary from back of the book and image from http://www.amusedbybooks.com/ Book given free for review.)

My Review: The writing was done well. The plot was developed thoroughly. The characters were explored and given real depth. I just had a hard time wanting to keep reading.   I don't know if it's because I honestly couldn't relate to Zoe, or if it's that I have a drastically different view on relationships and intimacy.  I had this impending doom feeling all the way until the end. The climax was definitely worth finishing the book, but I could have done without the constant sexual references.

To me, Zoe was amazingly naive when it came to relationships -- at least she was in the beginning. She does grow up and mature by the end of the story, which is refreshing, but it seemed so unbelievable that the red flags she saw going up weren't more of a deterrent.  Oscar Thornton was very scary to me, a man I would have dismissed quickly, although maybe that's simply my cautious personality or the way I was raised. Either way, I was incredibly worried she was going to end up dead in the trunk of his car. I left the story glad it was over and relieved with the outcome.

I'm sure there is quite an audience for this book, plenty of people who relate to the dating world she describes, but it's just not mine.  If anything, this book did confirm to me that I made the right choice by not going to New York to try out my wings. It is not a world I would have been happy in.

Rating: 3.5 stars

For the sensitive reader: This is definitely an adult book: there are quite a few sections that allude to sex scenes. While it was more than I wanted, it wasn't crass or detailed by any stretch.

Sum it up: What I can only imagine love life in the Big Apple is now days.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

2011-10-21T07:00:00.003-07:00

Summary: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can.

She believes there must e more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed. There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong. (Summary from book - Image from www.goodreads.com )

My Review: Mara Dyer’s friends are all dead, crushed beneath a crumbling building. Only she knows what happened that night – a night she can’t remember. Mara and her family move to Miami looking for a fresh start. and there she meets Noah Shaw and, even though sparks fly, she’s determined to go it alone -- to play sane and hide the grisly hallucinations she’s been having. Only her delusions get worse, and with them come flickers of memory -- pieces of what really happened – and Mara discovers a deadly secret. Little does she know, Noah has secrets of his own.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer seethes with darkness, tension, and an intriguing storyline. This plot has not been done. At least, I haven’t read it yet. I was fascinated by Mara’s intense hallucinations, the unexplained deaths, threatening phone calls, and mysterious time loss. Some books are pretty transparent, but with this one I couldn’t predict what was going to happen next and I found that I enjoyed not knowing. It didn’t take me long to finish this book. Hodkin’s plot and well-time delivery held my attention even when other aspects of the book threatened to ruin it.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was not without its flaws (and by flaws, I mean things that annoyed me). I had difficulty connecting with the characters, mostly because I didn’t really like them. Mara was traumatized, no doubt, and I’ll cut her some slack for that, but she’s also abrasive, angry, ungrateful, and six kinds of crazy. I’ll give her props for resisting Noah’s wiles for as long as is conceivably possible in a YA novel, but it only made me like her a little bit.

As for Noah -- he is an insanely attractive, lanky limbed, pale-skinned, messy-haired, and unconcernedly stylish control freak with a taste for classical music. Sound familiar? Hodkins might as well have called him Nedward. This might have some of you running for the shelves, but hold on a second, because I’m not done. He wears skinny jeans. He’s a man whore. And he smokes. Ugh. For the first half of the book, the only thing Noah had going for him was his stubble and his British accent. It wasn’t until the latter half the book that he gained more than a smidgen of my interest – right around the time Mara begins to realize there is more to Noah than meets the eye. So, while Noah improves upon acquaintance, even with all his devotion to Mara, his accent, and his stubble, I’m still not sure if I liked the rest of him.

This book also has a shboatload of profanity, and not the Biblical kind. Sometimes I am so stuck in a story that I barely even register the language, or I choose to ignore it because of the importance of the subject matter. However, there was enough of it in this novel that it was distracting. Each F/A/S/D/B word was one more was a nail in the coffin of you’ll-never-be-able-to-recommend-this-to-your-mother.

So. Long story short. I was captivated by the unique plot, and loved the cliffhanger ending, but was annoyed by the somewhat aggravating characters and unneccesary profanity. It became quite clear in the final pages that The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is only the beginning of a much larger story. I’m just not sure if I’ll be reading it.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Quite a bit of profanity – and not the kind you find in the Bible either. Occasionally crass language and subject matter. A few graphic (violent) hallucinations.

Sum it up: A hauntingly dark novel, with a killer plot (and language most unbecoming).

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Beverly Cleary

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summary: Ramona likes being big enough to be counted on, but must everything depend on her? If Mrs. Kemp didn't look after Ramona, her mother couldn't work full time. If Ramona's mother didn't work, her father couldn't return to college. Ramona does get to ride the school bus by herself this year. And despite teasing by Danny the Yard Ape, she's determined to enjoy the third grade; her new teacher, Mrs. Whaley; and learning to read and write. If only Mother would not remind Ramona every morning to be nice to Willa Jean Kemp. If only her parents wouldn't quarrel at home. If only Ramona didn't get sick one horrible day and throw up -- at school. But being a patient has its advantages. Even book reports and rainy Sundays have a bright side. In Ramona's world, being eight isn't easy, but it's never dull! ( Summary from book - Image from www.submarino.com )

My Review: I adore Ramona Quimby. She’s moody, mischievous, smart, curious, and quite the handful. In short, Ramona is a bit of every girl and she is definitely the literary equivalent of my middle daughter Sophie. Down to the hair cut. Seriously, they could be twins.

When reading to my daughters, I try to find books that will appeal both of them -- my five-year-old, who still likes picture books, and my seven-year-old, who has moved into advanced chapter ooks. The Ramona series is perfect because it mixes engaging chapters with really cute illustrations. I read these books a long time ago, and had forgotten that Ramona Quimby, Age 8 is not the first book in the series. It’s the third, preceded by Ramona the Pest and Ramona the Brave. Oh well. I didn’t feel the loss. This book can stand on its own.

I didn’t realize how many of my favorite “Ramona moments” came from this book -- the egg debacle, the improvised dinner, the book report, and many more. I’ve had these moments mulling around in the back of my head since I was little and can still remember my youthful fascination with Ramona’s brand new pink pearl eraser. Although this book is written for children, I found it thoroughly amusing and loved that I could sincerely empathize with ~~Sophie's~~ Ramona’s parents. I recommend this book as a wonderful read aloud (or read alone) novel for children.

My Kids’ Thoughts: Sophie said, “I sort of like it and I sort of don’t. I liked the egg story and the throw up story.”

Kaisa said, “Ramona is funny and it’s a really good book. My favorite story was where Beezus and Ramona had to cook dinner, because I like to cook and I kind of wish I could make up my own recipes.”

My Rating: 5 Stars

Sum it up: Read this book or I will punch you in the nose!

A Tiger in the Kitchen : A Memoir of Food and Family - Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan

2011-10-17T07:00:00.002-07:00

Summary: After growing up in Singapore, the most food-obsessed city in the world, Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan left home and family at eighteen for America -- proof of the rebelliousness of daughters born in the Year of the Tiger. But as a thirtysomething fashion writer in New York, she felt the dishes that defined her childhood calling her back. Was it too late to learn the secrets of her grandmothers' and aunties' kitchens? In her quest to recreate the dishes of Singapore by cooking with her femal erelatives, Tan learned not only cherished recipes but long-buried family stories.

A Tiger in the Kitchen, which includes ten recipes for Singaporean classics such as pineapple tarts and Teochew braised duck, is the charming story of a Chinese-Singaporean ex-pat who learns to infuse her New York lifestyle with rich kitchen lessons that reconnect her with her family and herself. (Summary from book - Image from www.facebook.com )

My Review: I found A Tiger in the Kitchen while helping my husband catch a sexual predator. Yes, you read that right. There was a wanted creeper at our local library and so I called my DH who, it just so happens, funds my book habit by working as a police detective. Anyhoo, while I waited for a him to arrive, I forced myself to “browse” our library’s new arrivals while keeping an eye on said creeper and, though I didn't register many of the titles, this one caught my attention.  You can pretty much count on me to snap up any food and travel books, even in the direst of circumstances. Both genres, especially when put together, temporarily satisfy my fervent desire to travel the world and eat copious amounts of ethnic food.

A Tiger in the Kitchen: A Memoir of Food and Family follows New York resident and fashion writer, Cheryl Tan, as she travels to Singapore in an attempt to reconnect with her family, rediscover her heritage, and recreate the food from her childhood. It also tells of her life in New York, and explores aspects of her family history and her memories of growing up in a Singapore.

As far as memoirs go, Tiger was an interesting read but nothing spectacular. At first, I was disappointed with Cheryl’s lack of commitment to her own mission: to learn how to cook the dishes of her childhood from the legendary women that made them. I expected her to dive right in, but instead she hung back and watched, showing up late, and appeared hesitant to do any real work. I almost gave up reading because I couldn’t reading an entire book that showcased such little effort. However, as Cheryl became more comfortable with her surroundings and with the women in her family, she started to become more involved in the kitchen and more dedicated to her objective.

Even though I inhaled Cheryl’s descriptions her successes and foibles in the kitchen, the endearing moments spent with family and friends, and the RECIPES at the end, this book never had that quality that made me really want to finish it. Quite frankly, I went days without reading it, and only picked it up again because I knew I needed to finish it before I could start another one. In short, it was an okay read (and it made me hungry for Chinese food), but is not a book I’m likely to recommend highly or read again.

My Rating: 3.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader: I can't think of anything objectionable. Except perhaps the consumption of seaworms. Blech.

Sum it up: A mildly flavorful mixture of culture and cuisine.

Dairy Queen - Catherine Gilbert Murdock

2011-10-15T07:00:00.001-07:00

Summary: When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.

Harsh words indeed, from Brian Nelson of all people. But D.J. Schwenk can't help admitting to herself that maybe he's right. Because it's obvious that no one is talking about why D.J.'s best friend, Amber, isn't so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Or why her mom has two jobs and a big secret, or why her college-football-star brothers won't even call home nowadays. And certainly no one is talking about how D.J.'s dad would go ballistic on her if she tried out for the football team. There's definitely a lot not being said. And that's not even mentioning the many reasons Brian Nelson is so out of D.J.'s league.

Welcome to the summer that fifteen-year-old D.J. Schwenk of Red Bend, Wisconsin, learns to talk, and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to say. (Summary from back of the book and image from http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com/)

My Review: I think this might be my favorite read of the summer. It took me by surprise and left me so happy to have picked it up--and glad there's two more to come! If you were to look at this book based solely on its subject matter, I don't think I would have ever guessed I'd like it. Farm life, cows, milking, football, training, dung, an introverted girl who doesn't know what she thinks about things until a good day or so after the conversation occurred, all don't add up to my interests. All that aside, this book is fantastic! I loved D.J.'s perspective. She wasn't annoying, or selfish, just supremely oblivious. I don't have a lot of experience with the mid-west, so I didn't know how authentic the book came across. After speaking with a co-worker from the mid-west she said it was delightfully authentic. She said the voice of the character was exactly how people speak from the mid-west and she loved having such an authentic portrayal.

The are many aspects of conflict, which makes this book so easy to slurp up. D.J. is conflicted within herself, with her family, with her best friend, with life. And how she solves these conflicts is what drives the story. I loved watching her grow into her confidence and realize what she really wants to do. I also loved her dedication and work ethic, her willingness to do what it took to keep her family afloat during a very difficult time. Despite all her family's communication issues, you could really tell that underneath is all they were great people going through a tough time.

I feel I need to mention this, for both parents and teachers. There is discussion of homosexuality. And while it's discussed in a real way, with the way teenagers often bluntly and sometimes cruelly refer to it, the overall handling of the subject is well done.

Overall I highly recommend this book and can't wait to get my hands on the next two books!

My Rating: 5 Stars

For the sensitive reader: There is swearing littered throughout, but not excessively or, at least to me, offensively. If you can't handle the random, good-old-fashioned, farm swearing, it may bother you.

Sum it up: Unique in its perspective, yet deals with issues common to all, Dairy Queen is a perfect coming of age story.

Heaven is for Real - Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summary: When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren't expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed -- a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy's trip to heaven and back.

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery -- and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, and how "really, really big" God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton's uniquely simple words, Heaven is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses."

Heaven is for Real will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child. ( Summary from book - Image from today.msnbc.msn.com )

My Review: Heaven is for Real has been calling to me for a while. I imagine quite a few of you have picked it up while browsing, turned it over, read the back, and wondered if it was a legitimate experience or just another get-rich-quick-because-my-kid-had-a-dream scheme. So we’re perfectly clear about where I'm coming from in this review -- I’m one of those religious types. I believe in God. I believe there is more to this life than what we can see, and I believe that ordinary people can see extraordinary things in extraordinary circumstances. I also believe there are a lot of nut jobs out there who like to fake it. I tried to read this book with an open mind but kept my skeptical spectacles on hand, just in case.

The first part of this book, when Colton was hospitalized, was extremely difficult to read from a parental perspective. I cannot imagine what it would be like to almost lose a child, but I cringe at the thought of having to watch my child or any child in such pain. I could feel his parents anguish, frustration, terror, and confusion as they waited to see what would happen to their son, Colton. Todd was very honest about his struggles with understanding and accepting God’s will in regards to his son. I was moved to tears by these emotional moments, as well as Colton’s miraculous recovery, and the undeniable power of faith and prayer.

Your feelings about this book likely will depend, first, on if you believe something like this could actually happen and, second, on if you believe it actually did. I believe this could actually happen – that Colton’s spirit could actually leave his body and visit a more heavenly realm. I believe that, if God willed it, anyone could talk to Jesus, meet the angels, and see family members he or she had never met. I believe most of Colton's story. Most, but not all. Here’s why…

[Puts on her skeptical spectacles]

I think that Colton tried to describe his experience to his parents in the best way that he could, but ultimately, he’s still a four-year-old. I have lived with a few four-year-olds in my time. While they are innocent, they are also very creative and don’t always distinguish fact from fiction when they are telling stories. I think that the majority of Colton’s story is accurate and based on his actual experience, but that some of the more extraneous details may have been distorted or imagined for no other reason than that they sounded good to Colton.

I’m inclined to be skeptical of Todd’s claims that his son hadn’t at least heard of certain widely held Christian beliefs (like about Jesus having nail marks on his hands and feet). Kids may be little but they have huge ears that pick up far more information than we realize. Although Colton’s parents seemed very careful not to ask leading questions, I doubt they successfully hid their reactions to his extraordinary experience. If Colton realized that his parents were pleased or excited by what he had to say, he might have sought to please them further by telling them more about Heaven than he actually experienced. That’s it. I’m done being the cynic.

[Takes off skeptical spectacles]

While there were a few discrepancies between Colton’s descriptions and my own personal beliefs on the nature of God and Heaven, there were other aspects of the book rang true -- things Colton simply could not have known and were more than mere coincidence. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, felt uplifted when I finished it, and appreciated the message about faith, family, and the existence of a loving Father in Heaven.

Sidenote: There is a book called The Message (by Lance Richardson) that tells of one man’s encounter with heaven from an LDS perspective, for those readers that are interested. I read it a long time ago (pre-blogging) and remember being very impressed by his experience.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

Sum it up: The intriguing story of a child's heavenly encounter.

Dark Parties - Sara Grant

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Neva keeps a list of The Missing. She secretly records each one in a tattered journal hidden in her mattress. Written records are forbidden, but Neva wants to remember each person, each face. And she will never forget her first entry -- her grandmother. But where do they go? There's no way out of the Protectosphere, the shield that separates Homeland form the rest of the world, and the government insists that everything beyond is an unlivable wasteland. But as Homeland's population and resources dwindling, Neva suspects that the government is lying: about the outside world, about The Missing, about everything.

Neva and her best friend, Sanna, take action and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. They begin to uncover horrifying truths, but can they succeed in opening the Protectosphere? Or will they, too, become part of The Missing? (Summary from book - Image from www.hatchettebookgroup.com - Book given free for an honest review)

My Review: Sixteen-year-old Neva is doomed to marry, have children, and die without ever seeing the world outside the Protectosphere -- a giant dome designed to sheild the citizens of Homeland from the danger that lurks beyond its synthetic border. But supplies are dwindling along with the population, and many people, including Neva’s grandma, have disappeared without explanation. In an effort to locate others who are equally dissatisfied, Neva and her bestfriend, Sanna, throw an underground rave – a dark party – that yields unexpected results. Now Neva is consumed with guilt, passion, and more desperate than ever to uncover the truth about the disappearances. The question is, will Neva survive or will she disappear as well?

I blew through Dark Parties in under two days. Honestly, I probably would have finished it in a matter of hours if I didn’t have all those pesky grown-up responsibilities that seem to be constantly plaguing me. I was hooked in a matter of pages and had to force myself to put. the. book. down. around 3AM so that I wasn’t a complete beast in the morning. Sometimes being responsible is such a burden.

Dark Parties was reminiscent of some of my favorite YA dystopian novels (The Giver, City of Ember, Delirium) but still had a feel that was all its own. I enjoyed the world that the author created within the Protectosphere and could feel the tension within Homeland as people began to question authority and govermental control deteriorated. The author also captured the depth and changeability of teenage emotion in several of the characters. Neva’s stubborness, curiousity, and otherwise teenage-y angst felt very genuine and I admired her fierce independence, loyalty and determination.

Initially I was a little worried about this book’s predictability. I saw the first twist coming a mile away. In fact, it was so obvious that I’m not even sure it was supposed to be a twist. I was a little worried that the rest of the book was going to be that transparent until the next twist blindsided me. TKO. I loved that twist. I devoured the sizzly tension between Neva and Braydon, but appreciated that she was torn between her feelings for him and loyalty to her best friend. In the end, I believe the best side of Neva won out.

Overall, this book was engaging, well-paced, and romantic. It touches on themes of historical bias, privacy rights, xenophobia, globalization, population control, and cultural assimilation, but in such an interesting way that I wasn’t bored out of my skull. I wasn’t bored at all! According to her website, Sara Grant is not working on a sequel to Dark Parties, but she has planted a few seeds so that one could be written. I would definitely read a sequel, or any other book by this author, and would recommend this book to any fans of dystopian fiction who are looking for light and entertaining read.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader: In a society where teens are encouraged to engage in sexual activity for the purpose of population growth, you’d think this book would be full of sex, but it wasn’t. Because of the rebels refusal to bring a child into a world that has no future, the characters restricted themselves to sexually charged adolescent fumbling. Everything stayed pretty PG-13, with few details and no profanity or graphic violence. At one point Neva undergoes a forced pelvic exam. A little awkward…but isn’t it always?

Sum it up: Definitely a dark party. Entertaining, romantic, and a little bit dangerous.

Sizzling Skillets and Other One-Pot Wonders - Emeril Lagasse

2011-10-09T07:00:00.003-07:00

Summary: In chef Emeril Lagasse's tribute to one-pot wonders, he shows there's nothing more satisfying than a hearty meal prepared in your most cherished pot or pan. Whether baked in a cast-iron skillet, braised in a Dutch oven, seared in a hot wok, or simmered in a slow cooker, Emeril's Sizzling Skillets and Other One-Pot Wonders serves up delicious meals to fit any pan or palate.

Go beyond your typical soups, stews, and casseroles to indulge in crave-worthy main courses like "BLT" Risotto or New England-Style Fish and Shellfish Chowder, and comforting classics such as Cola-Braised Pot Roast with Vegetables and Southern-Style Chicken and Dumplings. Emeril also explores the spice trail with his bold twist on some of the world's global traditions -- Indian Karahi Chicken, Korean Kimchi and Beef Stew, and Mexican Pork and Red Chile Posole.

With more than 130 flavorful dishes and beautiful color photos throughout, Emeril's recipes use foolproof techniques and staples from a well-stocked pantry to create filling meals that you'll be proud to bring to your table. The perfect family dinner or star of your next potluck celebration is just one pot away! (Image from Amazon. Summary from book cover.)

My Review: Beautiful, versatile cookbook with recipes to please a range of tastes. The photography is decent, the book design is clean and organized, and the book is divided according to the cooking vessel instead of ingredient or meal type. (Skillets, casseroles, Dutch ovens, big pots, woks, and slow cookers.)

Although it's a "one-pot" cookbook, it may give the impression of containing time-saving recipes for busy people. This is very misleading as most of the recipes have long ingredient lists and lots of steps, but as the title of the book suggests, it's all cooked in one pot. It's not a book I'd turn to on a Wednesday night at 5:30 looking for something quick. Nor is it a book from which I'd gather ideas if watching my diet. It's a book I'd turn to if I've got dinner guests on the weekend. Or a family gathering to prep. Or a cozy potluck with friends.

Kind of comes with the territory, though. Emeril isn't known for doing 30-minute meals. However, he is known for knocking socks off. Because Emeril is one of my favorite celebrity chefs I expected to be impressed with this book. I definitely was. We tried Emeril's Mulligatawny and Chicken in the Pot and adored both.

Like the summary says, Emeril explores flavors and types of food from all over the world. He uses a lot of pantry staples and easy-to-find produce, but he also includes a wide range of meat. That may have been my only turn-off in this book. I have a very small comfort zone when it comes to meat (texture issues, mostly), but someday I'll be brave enough to try one of his shellfish, lamb, duck, venison, and... rabbit recipes. *gulp* That being said, I've got a shopping list filled with recipes stuck in this book. I sincerely hope I can get to all of them before I die.

My Rating: 4 stars. (But only because of my personal meat issues.)

Sum it Up: Perfect cookbook for potlucks and dinner party menus. Not for frantic recipe searches at 5PM on a Wednesday.

If you'd like a chance at winning a free copy of this cookbook, visit the review post for Sizzling Skillets and Other One-Pot Wonders on Perry's Plate for details! (Jumping through hoops not required.)

The Santa Club - Kelly Moss

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summary: A delightful book with captivating illustrations, The Santa Club transitions your child from receiving gifts to experiencing the joy of giving. With sensitivity, faith, and love, The Santa Club tackles the serious question, “Is Santa Claus Real?” To be read with your child, this wonderful book not only answers that sometimes “dreaded” question but it also addresses the questions of why Santa comes at Christmas and who was the first Santa. The Santa Club is a wonderful parenting resource and a stunning children’s book, and is sure to become an annual family favorite. (Summary from author - Image from The Santa Club Facebook page - Book given free for honest review)

My Review: My oldest daughter just turned eight years old and for the last several years, her belief in the "magic" of Santa Claus has been waning. She has asked me a few times if Santa Claus is real and I have always put her off with a "Well, what do you think?" before quickly changing the subject. I guess I've always been hoping for a good way of explaining why I've been lying to her for the last eight years of her life.

The Santa Club is designed specifically for children who are old enough and have asked the questions "Is Santa Claus real?" or "Is there a Santa Claus?" Once they get your permission, and on the condition that they not tell other children what they read, your child can open the pages of this book and be welcomed into the Santa Club, where they learn that Santa is real, because we are all Santas who are honoring the tradition of St. Nicholas, a man who loved and followed Jesus Christ. The Santa Club talks about God's greatest gift to us, His son Jesus Christ, and how we honor that gift every Christmas by giving to those we love and those who are in need.

Every family is different and every parent handles the question "Is Santa real?" in a different way. Some parents leave Santa completely out of the equation and choose to focus on the Christ part of Christmas. For them, this book is irrelevant.  Because of its religious tilt, this book might not be the best fit for families that choose to focus on the more secular aspect of Christmas, although they could certainly still talk about how we can all be "Santa." This book is most useful for parents who are trying to help their children enjoy both the sacred and secular aspects of Christmas and don't know what to say to older children who are no longer buying that Santa's magic suit helps him fit down all those chimneys.

The only thing that I didn't like about this book was the illustrations, which looked like rough caricatures.  I didn't think they fit with the message; they threw off the feel of the book and might even be a little scary for younger kids.    For that reason, I am not sure if I'll give my child this book. I might. Might. I haven't decided yet. However, I will definitely be using the concept for the next time my daughter's curiousity gets the better of her.

My Rating: 3.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  While there isn't any offensive content, I wouldn't give this to your child without reading it first -- so that you can get your story straight.

Sum it up:  Don't worry, you haven't been lying to them. You've just be waiting to tell them until they were old enough to join the Santa Club. Whew!

Bloodborne - Gregg Luke

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summary: One ordinary afternoon, research specialists Dr. Erin Cross steps into a local deli to get some lunch and nearly takes a bullet instead. Thanks to timely intervention form a former Marine, she walks away from the seemingly freak incident. But when she returns to find her lab under security lockdown and her apartment ransacked, she realizes the attack was anything but random. Erin can't make sense of the threat, given her low profile after a disastrous H1N1 vaccine trial. She doesn't know that her former colleague has used the virus to develop a potent bio weapon or that her recent research holds a key to his success. And she doesn't know that his collaborators want her dead before she blows the whistle.

Fleeing for safety with her research in hand, Erin unravels the threats with help form the timely Marine, former Special Ops agent Sean Flannery. But the closer they come to finding answers, the more questionable Sean's behavior becomes. His erratic moods and suspicious communications are more fitting for an enemy than a friend. And as the crisis comes to a head, Erin can't be sure who harbors more secrets -- the bio terrorists pursuing her or the one man who can give her protection. (Summary from book - Image from goodreads.com - Book given free for an honest review )

My Review: When my mother saw this book sitting on my counter she said, “Oooh, Gregg Luke! I’ve read a couple of his books, but they are too tense for me!” Oh really? Darn. That’s right up my alley. I started reading it that very day.

Bloodborne doesn’t waste time on pleasantries and dives right into the action. It begins just as Erin Cross receives a text message telling her "You are about to die," moments before the deli she is in is sprayed with gunfire. She is saved by the quick actions of Sean Flannery, a former Special Ops Marine turned author. Erin and Sean spend the next several days trying to escape from a secret society's evil henchman and uncover the secret behind a potentially deadly virus.

As with most LDS fiction, this novel is free from sexual situations, excessive violence, and profanity. The closest Erin comes to swearing is the term “Jerk face” and the closest they come to the bedroom is a kiss on the cheek. It has a few LDS references, but no so many that a non-LDS reader would feel lost or uncomfortable.

Bloodborne is fast-paced, but occasionally feels contrived, especially in regards to characters, dialog, and certain plot points. I'm trying to vague this up a bit, because I don't want to spoil things, but several of these areas lacked adequate explanation, background detail, and/or depth. I really liked the structure of the story, the overall outline of the plot, but felt that the writing could have been better. Fans of LDS fiction are more likely to enjoy this novel than those who regularly read literary fiction.

My Rating: 3 Stars

For the sensitive reader: If you’re offended by the term “Jerk face” then this book is not for you.

Sum it up: A book with unreached potential.

If you're interested, visit Gregg Luke's website or purchase your own copy of Bloodborne.

You Might Have Missed This...

2011-10-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Two days ago I broke the First Commandment of Blogging:

Thou Shalt Not Post Any Giveaways on Saturday

(or Sunday, for that matter).

A TWILIGHT SAGA GIVEAWAY : LOVE IT or LOATHE IT?

2011-10-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Post-edit: I've been told by a few people that they had problems commenting on this giveaway.
Please let me know if you have an issue with it and I'll make sure
you get entered: mindyoja AT hotmail DOT com.

---------------------------------

Whether you LOVE or LOATHE the Twilight Saga,

you are going to love this giveaway!

Reading For Sanity and CafePress
are giving you the chance to win
$80

in website credit to spend on your choice of pro or con

Twilight Saga merchandise* !

If it's Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or Breaking Dawn

in nature then it can be YOURS!

That means you could get some of these:

Stupid Lamb - Papercut - Switzerland - Unless Jacob is Shirtless - Penguins, Lovely - Kill You - Drive Like a Cullen

Or you could get some of THESE:

Renesme - Pansies - Seriously? - Ate the Lamb - I (Don't) Heart Twilight - Edward Isn't Real - Unconditionally & Irrevocably

So I guess the question is, which team are you?

To enter to win you must:

Comment with your contact information and the words LOVE IT or LOATHE IT.

For extra entries (Please leave SEPARATE COMMENTS for each extra entry or you ONLY GET ONE):

Be, or quickly become, a RFS follower (via Google Reader or Blogged in the sidebar).
Post about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or some other social networking site.
Like Reading For Sanity on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter.
Pick your favorite bookbag. Any of these will do for fans. Or these for the haters. This is how I justify this giveaway. It's about books, dang it. BOOKS! Comment and *leave the link* to the BOOKbag you would like most.
Head over to the CafePress Twilight & Breaking Dawn merchandise page, poke around a bit, and window shop. Haters can go here or here to find what you'd like. Let us know what you'd love to have in your bag if you win! Comment and *leave the link(s)* to your favorite must have item or items.

*DVD's/CD's/Electronics not included. This is basically for clothing, gift items, bags, etc. You know what I mean.

Eligibility: This giveaway is open to US/CAN residents only. It will run from October 1st, 2011 to October 31st, 2011 at 11:59 PM. The winner will be chosen randomly, posted publicly, and contacted swiftly to arrange shipping. Winner can make changes to his/her bag upon winning as long as it's all within the Twilight-ish genre. Reading For Sanity reserves the write to disqualify any entrant for not following the rules or just being a giant pain in the tush.

BANNED BOOKS GIVEAWAY WINNER

2011-10-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to

Wendy T. (aka won)

who won our Banned Books Giveaway!

We'll be contacting you soon to arrange shipping.

Start thinking about which bag you would like!

Didn't win?

Don't worry.

Cafepress (and Reading For Sanity) have a doozy coming tomorrow.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Mildred D. Taylor

2011-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summary: With the land to hold them together, nothing can tear the Logans apart. Why is the land so important to Cassie's family? It takes the events of one turbulent year -- the year of the night riders and the burnings, the year a white girl humiliates Cassie in public simply because she is black -- to show Cassie that having a place of their own is the Logan family's lifeblood. It is the land that gives the Logan's their courage and pride -- no matter how others may degrade them, the Logan's possess something no one can take away. ( Summary from book - Image from childrensbooks.wikia.com )

My Review: Mildred Taylor’s novels are based on stories her father and other relatives told her. She says, "My stories will not be 'politically correct,' so there will be those who will be offened by them, but as we all know racism is offensive. It is not polite, and it is full of pain."  Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry won the Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature in 1977. It was also named the New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year and an ALA Notable Book.

Since the novel’s publication in 1976, it has been the subject of numerous ban attempts. In 2004, a family wanted it pulled from the classroom because of its “harsh depictions of racism and its use of racial slurs.” You can read more of the story here. While this book does contain somewhat “harsh depictions of racism and use of racial slurs,” I feel that the potential for increased understanding, empathy, and growth far outweighs the words and situations used to convey this story.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is set in Mississippi during the 1930s. For those who perhaps aren’t history minded, this is the middle of the Depression, after the abolition of slavery but before the major push of the Civil Rights movement. At the time, many black families scratched out a living through sharecropping. They were forced to endure appalling racism on land that was not their own and left at the mercy of the rich, white land owners.

Cassie Logan and her family live on their own land -- an almost unheard of occurrence for the times -- in a county rife with racial tension. Cassie and her siblings are forced to walk to a black school each morning, when white children are allowed to take the bus. They notice when they are given text books only when they are no longer deemed suitable for white students, and they worry that the “night riders” will strike again.

While Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry clearly raises the issue of racism, it does so without going into more detail than a child could reasonably understand. It is told from the perspective of a young girl named Cassie, who struggles to understand the cruelty and injustice of the world around her. In spite of daily reminders of her “place,” Cassie is still idealistic, though indignant, and unwilling to submit to the idea that she is a second-class citizen. I loved several of the characters in this book (Mr. Morrison, Little Man, and even T.J. … a little bit). Their experiences were engaging, with tremendous teaching potential and plenty of room for discussion.

One of my favorite quotes from the book (some advice Cassie received from her father) highlights the importance of standing up for what is right and respecting yourself: “There’ll be a whole lot of things you ain’t gonna wanna do but you’ll have to do in this life just so you can survive… . But there are other things…things you can’t back down on, things you gotta take a stand on. But it’s up to you to decide what them things are. You have to demand respect in this world, ain’t nobody just gonna hand it to you. How you carry yourself, what you stand for – that’s how you gain respect. But…ain’t nobody’s respect worth more than your own.”

You just can’t argue with a message like that, though it seems some people will try.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Repeated use of the "N" word, though historically accurate and necessary within the context of the story. Some violence towards the end, but not overly graphic.

Sum it up: A wonderful read on the importance of equality and for standing up for what is right, regardless of the cost.

In the Night Kitchen - Maurice Sendak

2011-09-29T07:00:00.001-07:00

Summary: A young boy named Mickey sleeps in his bed when he is disturbed by noise on a lower floor. Suddenly, he begins to float, and all of his clothes disappear as he drifts into a surreal world called the "Night Kitchen".

He falls naked into a giant mixing pot that contains the batter for the morning cake. While Mickey is buried in the mass, three identical bakers (who most likely resemble Oliver Hardy) mix the batter and prepare it for baking, unaware (or unconcerned) that there is a boy inside. Halfway through the baking process, the boy emerges from the oven, protesting that he is not the batter's milk.

To make up for the baking ingredient deficiency, Mickey (now wearing a bodysuit of batter from the neck down) constructs an airplane out of bread dough so he can fly to the mouth of a gigantic milk bottle. Upon reaching the bottle's opening, he dives in and briefly revels in the liquid. As his covering of batter disintegrates, he pours the needed milk in a cascade down to the bakers who joyfully finish making the morning cake.

Naked again, and with the dawn breaking, Mickey crows like a rooster and slides down the bottle to magically return to his bed. Everything is back to normal, beyond the happy memory of his experience. Summary and photo from Wikipedia.

My Review: I admit, my first thought after reading this book was, "That was the weirdest childrens' book I have ever read. Perhaps the dumbest." Because I'm a big fan of Where the Wild Things Are, I was disappointed in this award-winning (?!) book.

Let's start with why it was banned in the first place and then touch on some positives. Like the summary states, Mickey is nude in most of the book, and Sendak didn't make an effort to encourage modesty. His genitalia looks like an extra finger, to be honest. Not a lot detail there. As I was reading this book to my young girls, ages 2 1/2 and 4, I expected them to point and ask questions, but they did neither. They were more interested in the fact that he was covered (sometimes) in cake batter and flying around in an airplane made of bread dough.

There were a couple of things about the book that I found delightful, including his cake batter suit and the "city" skyline behind him made from pantry items. That's about it. The story itself, as well as the illustrations, are very whimsical, which is expected in a book about a child's dream. However, I found it to be a little too whimsical, bordering bizarre, and wondered if Mr. Sendak was under the influence during its creation. The text was often strange, "I'm in the milk and the milk's in me. God Bless Milk and God Bless Me!" Huh? The three bakers also had identical faces (creepy). After a couple times through the book I wondered if Mr Sendak was alluding to political or societal issues in this book, but I couldn't figure out what it was.

And from the perspective of a mother who tries to encourage healthy eating in her house, I really don't like the whole point of the book -- making cake for breakfast every day. If my kids were to read this book often, I wouldn't be worried about them being influenced Mickey's anatomy, but from his eating habits.

My Rating: 2 stars

Sum It Up: A little too whimsical and bizarre for my taste.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes - Chris Crutcher

2011-09-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes has been challenged in several states for it's language, "pornographic and sexual content" and negative portrayal of Christians. While the book does have a fair amount of profanity, its "pornographic and sexual content" was hardly worth mentioning, and its "negative portrayal of Christianity" had a purpose that becomes evident as the book progresses.

Summary: Sarah Byrnes and Eric have been friends for years. When they were children, his fat and her terrible scars made them both outcasts. Later, although swimming slimmed Eric, she stayed his closest friend.

Now Sarah Byrnes -- the smartest, toughest person that Eric has ever known -- sits silent in a hospital. Eric must uncover the terrible secret she's hiding before it's dark current pull us both under. (Summary from book - Image from http://www.chriscrutcher.com/)

My Review: Many banned children’s and young adult books have one thing in common; they have the potential to influence children to think for themselves, to make difficult choices, to question authority and even, occasionally, to stand up to it. Add that to some profanity and a few minor sexual comments that are found in this book and I can see how certain people would get very upset.

From my perspective, this complicated issue is very simple. This world can be wonderful, but it can also be cruel and complicated. At some point our children are going to have to come to terms with reality. Every book can’t end happily ever after and they can’t all be sugar coated. If they were, we certainly wouldn’t learn anything from them. Part of our job as parents is to teach our children to think for themselves, rather than be swayed by popular opinion. Yes, we want to protect our children. Yes, we want them to stay sweet and innocent, but I would rather have my children discover and question their beliefs when I am there to guide them. I would rather read this book and talk about it with them, than have them pretend that bad things don’t exist.

There is a lot to love about Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. It has received several awards, most notably the American Library Association (ALA) Best Book for Young Adults. I instantly related to Eric's insecurities and Sarah Byrne's tough facade, and I think that many young adults might see something of themselves tucked away inside these characters, their complicated lives, and their relationship. Eric's concern for Sarah Byrnes's well being and his dedication to her was inspiring. As the story progressed, it was far more suspenseful than I expected and taught a strong moral lesson about friendship, compassion, and the power of family.

I adored Eric’s Contemporary American Thought class. The teacher, Ms. Lemry, did her best to encourage honest and rational discussion about relevant and controversial issues (e.g. abortion, suicide, and religion). It forced me to examine my own beliefs and defend them, at least inwardly. It would be an excellent choice for book club, as long as your book club is capable of discussing hot-button issues without throwing things. Do I agree with every argument presented in the class? Heck no! But I do wish we had more conversations like that going on, and more people who are willing to examine both sides an argument and engage in thoughtful, respectful discussion about the issues that society finds most troubling.

I think that one of the most controversial aspects of this book was its initial representation and vilification of Christianity. One of the characters, Mark, is an evangelical Christian, but not an accurate representation of what Christianity purports to be. The majority of the book makes him look like a judgmental, hypocritical jerk, and a more compassionate representation of Christian beliefs doesn’t really enter the picture until much later in the story.

While plenty of books on the YA shelves are meaningless drivel, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is not one of them. It is a powerfully riveting and emotional story that grabs hold and it doesn’t let go.

Sidenote: Here is an excerpt from a letter the author wrote to a school district that was contemplating banning his book:

I'm not a person who believes all books are worthwhile. There are lots of books I wouldn't recommend. But I'm only smart enough to choose for myself, not for everyone. To paraphrase Kurt Vonnegut, one of the tough things about standing up against censorship is some of the (crap) you have to stand up for. (And yes, I edited myself - or Mr. Vonnegut - in deference to the complainant.) But I have been an educator and I have been a therapist for families in particularly tough circumstances and the characters and situations in this book come from real places. When we ban books about kids who feel marginalized and diminished, we ban the kids themselves. We say, "Your life is not worth examining, not worth being brought into the light. You don't matter." I would want to think long and hard before allowing my school to be perceived in that way.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader: A fair amount of profanity, some mild sexual comments, and discussion of controversial issues.

Sum it up: Much better, and much more, than I expected. An important and relevant read.

The Earth, My Butt, and other Big Round Things - Carolyn Mackler

2011-09-27T07:00:00.001-07:00

Summary: Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex. She lives on the Web, snarfs junk food, and obeys the "Fat Girl Code of Conduct." Then there are the other Shreveses: Mom is an exercise fiend and a successful adolescent psychologist; Dad, when not jet-setting, or golfing in Connecticut, ogles skinny women on TV; and older siblings Byron and Anais are slim, brilliant, and impossible to live up to.

Delete Virginia, and the Shreveses are a picture-perfect family...until a phone call changes everything. (Summary from back of the book and image from http://carolynmackler.com/)

My Review: I saw this book at my school's Literacy Carnival Night and thought: I have to have it! At the time, I didn't even realize it was on the banned books list. Being on the banned books list did not deter me from reading it, but I'm afraid it failed to live up to the title quite as much as I'd hoped.

My overall feeling about this book was lukewarm--it just wasn't as funny as I'd hoped it would be. The storyline was ok; it followed Virginia through a painful early high school year as she navigated the artificial social chaos that is high school. While Virginia is sympathetic on some levels, she's also very extreme, which led me -- though perhaps not all readers -- to step back and want to scrutinize her actions. As a result, I couldn't place myself completely in Virginia's shoes. I knew her life was supposed to be a very painful experience, but Mackler wasn't able to make me forget that it wasn't me going through it. I did feel badly for her, but I couldn't completely justify all her actions, making the book only slightly painful during parts you know are supposed to be excruciating.

There were many aspects of this book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I believe the depiction of Virginia's family was very real: her mother not wanting to talk about anything therefore being the ultimate hypocrite; her father's hurtful, but fairly oblivious comments about what a female should look like; her brother's self-centered persona; his fall from grace when he pushes past the limits of what is ever acceptable; and her distant older sister who saw the family for what they really were, but runs away instead of staying.

And then there is Virginia, forgotten, ignored, pampered Virginia. She had parts to her personality that were very mature for her age, and other aspects that were stunted far behind what I'd expect of a high school girl. It's hard for me to really feel sorry for Virginia when her lifestyle is not that tough. She lives in Manhattan, goes to a private school, doesn't have to worry about where her next meal will come from, and has the world at her fingertips. What is realistic about Virginia is her self-centered view on life. It was so fitting for her to only see how tough things were for her and not realize how much harder so many people have it. Her realization, that life is hard for others, was necessary and refreshing, although I think she still had quite a ways to go.

For a more sensitive reader, I could easily see why this made the banned books list. Not because there was so much risque, offensive content, but more for the message and the swearing. I could easily see conservative parents not being comfortable with a character who questions her parents every decision, pushes the limits, talks back and has blow-out fights with her parents in public, travels across the country without her parents initial consent, has a secret "friend with benefits," and wants to fool around farther than many parents would find acceptable, among other things. There is also profanity. Honestly, I can ignore quite a bit of swearing in a book, so this didn't bother me that much, but there were a couple F-bombs dropped and other various swear words used.

Ultimately, I believe there is an audience for this book, but I'd be very selective to whom I recommend it.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Sum it up: A slightly painful peek into an adolescent girl's world who struggles with fitting in and her body size.

The Chocolate War - Robert Cormier

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

This review of The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier is part of our 2nd Annual Banned Books Week. On all the banned/challenged books lists I've come across, this novel is one of the books that I saw most frequently. According to Dangerous Books, The Chocolate War was banned "due [to] heavy use of profanity, sexual references, and references to bribery, distortion, and physical violence within the novel" and remains number five of the top 50 banned books.

Summary: Jerry Renault is pondering the question on the poster in his locker: Do I dare disturb the universe?

Refusing to sell chocolates in the annual Trinity School fund-raiser may not seem like a radical thing to do. But when Jerry challenges a secret school society called The Vigils, his defiant act turns into an all-out war. Now the only question is: Who will survive? (Summary from book - Image from www.w3.xs.edu.ph)

My Review: Jerry Renault isn’t anyone special. He just wants to make a difference, to be somebody, and to make his own decisions -- not be pushed around by his sadistic teacher or the Vigils, the bullies that populate his private school. When Jerry refuses to sell chocolates for the school fundraiser, his dissension has disastrous results. As other students begin to follow suit, chocolate sales fall, and the Vigils influence is threatened, Jerry suddenly becomes a target for harassment and aggression from all sides.

On the surface, this book is offensive. It has all the things it is accused of having (see above), including a great deal more profanity than one would expect in a book aimed at children and young adults. There are a few sexual references, the kind you would expect to hear from teenage boys, and also an increasing amount of physical violence as the book progresses. However, closer examination (like actually reading the book, as opposed to just counting the swear words) reveals a deeper and much more meaningful message.

The Chocolate War is about standing up for what is right, regardless of whether it is popular. At first, Jerry goes along with The Vigils mandate that he refuse to sell chocolates, but he has a change of heart when he realizes that he no longer wants to just “go along” with things. He decides the he is willing to upset the status quo, regardless of the consequences, and not let others dictate his own decisions. There are several other characters in the book that are vile (and perfectly written) antagonists, and others who when faced with a similar decision, choose the easier path. The end of the book is fairly disturbing, as Jerry is given the choice to walk away, or stand and fight. I can't pretend to understand all of the meaning that can be gleaned from the final scenes of this book, but I do know that the end is not a neatly tied bow. It’s messy food for thought that would make for an interesting classroom or book club discussion.

Despite the profanity and sexual comments, I wouldn’t object to my daughter reading this book when she gets older, if it was assigned in school. Don’t get me wrong, we’d definitely have to talk about what she was reading, but I think the themes (standing up to peer pressure, the fickleness of popular opinion, the psychology of human interaction and bullying, the dangers of a mob mentality, etc.) offer the opportunity for valuable, relevant discussion, especially within a group of young adults. Any parent whose child is assigned this book would do well to read it with them, and at least attempt to see the real heart of this book before crying foul.

Side note: I do wonder if there are other books in print that offer a similar heartening message without the profanity, sexuality, and violence. Have you read any? Feel free and comment to let us know!

My Rating: 3.75 Stars

For the sensitive reader: A great deal of profanity, some discussion of sexual matters, and an increasing amount of physical violence.

Sum it up: A book that is both offensive and uplifting. Is that even possible? It would seem so.