Book Review: Flash Burnout by L. K. Madigan

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Blake has a pretty good life for a high school sophomore. He’s got a girlfriend who loves him and makes him happy, he’s got good friends, and for the most part he likes his classes in school. And he lives in a loving home with two parents and his older brother Garrett. He doesn’t give his situation much thought until he’s showing a photo assignment to his friend Marissa in class one day. When he uncovers a photo of a homeless woman passed out on the sidewalk, Marissa gasps and says, “That’s my mom.” Suddenly he’s compelled into Marissa’s life in unexpected ways and finding out that not everyone leads mundane, uneventful lives away from school.

As he’s drawn to help Marissa more and more, Blake’s relationship with his girlfriend, Shannon, becomes strained. Can he be the friend Marissa needs and the boyfriend Shannon expects at the same time?

Flash Burnout by L. K. Madigan juxtaposes suburban middle-class life against the lives of the homeless and addicted. It shows the toll addiction and neglect can take not only on family members, but also on friends and others in the community around them. The book covers issues of sexual abstinence, safe sex, underage drinking, using alcohol to escape, honesty in relationships and more. It also introduces complex supporting characters that add interest to the story: Blake’s mother is a hospital chaplain, and his father is a coroner. Garrett interns at the morgue with his dad. (Their work discussions make Blake queasy and may do the same for some readers.) Marissa’s brother Gus is a thrill-seeking bike messenger who takes responsibility for his family.

Madigan lives in Portland, and I really enjoyed picking up on some of the local references in Flash Burnout. I would have liked to know more about Blake’s conflicted thoughts between his feelings for his girlfriend and his friend, particularly after a particular event near the end, and I would have preferred less description of Blake’s ordinary life. Even so, I really liked following his story, and I liked that Flash Burnout doesn’t tidy up all the answers into a nice package at the end; instead it asks the reader to consider what will happen next. I believe the issues and the characters should provide great discussions for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up. Flash Burnout is Madigan’s debut novel, and I eagerly anticipate her next book.

Book Review: Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce

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When my mother-daughter book club with Catherine read Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce, we had a long discussion about the many layers of meaning to be found in this seemingly simple story. Here’s what two of the moms had to say:

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll kiss your bad mood goodbye. If you enjoyed Millions, you’ll also get a kick out of Framed! This story of a young boy trying to hold his family and his town together has lots of humor and affection and a little mystery too. The characters are both quirky and endearing, from the child-like, Ninja turtle fan to the elderly sisters who have “cooperative” driving skills! It’ll warm the cockles of your heart. Whatever those are. — Lisa W., Portland, Oregon

This is a little gem of a book. It’s the story of a sleepy little town in Wales called Manod where nothing seems to happen, until one day something wonderful changes everything. The story is told by young Dylan Hughes, the only boy left in town, whose family runs the Manod gas station. Through his innocent, friendly voice we get to know his family and lots of the town’s people. Just when Manod seems about to fall off the map and the family is in deep financial trouble, the National Gallery in London decides to store all its paintings in an abandoned mine in the little town to protect them from local flooding. As, one by one, the people of Manod get exposed to the beautiful artwork, gradual changes take place that will warm your heart and save the town. This story has adventure, mystery and humor, but mostly it is about people and a town discovering not only who they are, but who they can be. My daughter and I both loved it! —  Ellen S., Portland, Oregon

And here’s my review:

What happens to a grey, Welsh town with a depressed economy and dwindling population when world-famous art arrives there for storage in an old mine? Find out in this wonderful tale of what it means to be part of a family and a community. Told through the voice of Dylan Hughes, the only boy left in the town of Manod, Framed will introduce you to a town full of eccentric characters who are inspired by the masterpieces they see to create great changes in themselves and in Manod. It’s a heart-warming, funny tale that’s great to read aloud.

Book Review: Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

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Two girls in mother-daughter book clubs sent in their reviews of Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen.

Flipped was a fabulous book that I genuinely enjoyed reading. It was fun, captivating and easy to relate to. Wendelin Van Draanen so wonderfully expressed moments in the lives of kids and wrote it in a unique style. I couldn’t put it down. Each chapter told the same event, but from both the main characters’ points of view, which just pulled me in and never put me down! As the kids grow older, an unreturned adoration is flipped and holds you emotionally until the very last word. — Franny S., Portland, Oregon

I really enjoyed reading Flipped. The author, Wendelin Van Draanen is very good at writing with expression and makes you feel like you’re there. I could totally relate to some of the things she wrote about. I like her style of writing very much and I think that this book is hilarious and very entertaining. I also liked the way she formatted the book; how she had Bryce, the boy in the story sometimes speaking, and other times Juliana, the girl in the story sometimes speaking. This book also had many surprising twists to it making it so that I couldn’t put it down. I could read it again and again. If you’re looking for a quick, funny, and entertaining book then look no further because it’s here. – Makena, age 12

Book Review: Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey

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I received this review from a mom who recommends this series for mother-daughter book clubs.

I’d like to recommend Anne McCaffrey’s young adult series for your 8-12th grade range. I don’t see anything else I recognize as science fantasy, and this is a classic, with a female main character. The books, in order, are Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragondrums. Dragonsong introduces Menolly, who is a talented teenage musician but her father cannot stand her being anything but what is traditional for women in their village. Menolly is lost, impresses a host of small dragons (fire lizards), and eventually finds both a home in a music school and respect from her family. — Sarah T., Castro Valley, California

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Book Review: Chasing the Falconers by Gordon Korman

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This review came in from a daughter who recommends it highly.

I read the book Chasing the Falconers by Gordon Korman. This book took place in a juvenile detention center called Sunnydale Farm (which wounded up not being so sunny to the kids). “In the middle of nowhere” stated Aiden Falconer in the book. My inference is that the book takes place in present day. The two main characters are Aiden and Meg Falconer. Meg Falconer is 11 years old and has been stuck in juvenile because of her parents. She is devoted and will do anything to free her parents from jail and clear the Falconer name. She is also brave and lonely (other than her brother). Aiden Falconer is also persistent to pursue any task he is given. Aiden is 15 years old but in many cases he disguises him self as an older male, not revealing his identity.

At the beginning of the book the Falconer siblings lived at a Sunnydale Farm. They are there because their parents have been accused of working with terrorists, and they wanted to keep the kids safe. One night Aiden accidently sets the barn on fire with a kerosene lamp, and since the ground was so dry the whole farm immediately flew up in flames. Ever since the fire Aiden and Meg have been on the run trying to prove their parents’ innocence.

For example the kids in the book are masterminds at scheming and planning escapes like when they snuck out of a highway covered with suspicious cops. Also another time when they colored their hair to fool the police that they were not themselves. Even though they used their father’s book to help guide them I still can’t believe that, that much intelligence could come from two kids. — Emily B., Acton, Massachusetts

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Book Review: Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

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My daughters and I all love author Frank Cottrell Boyce’s books for young readers. Here’s a review my daughter Madeleine wrote for Cosmic.

An excellent book. I love Cottrell’s writing style, have enjoyed his other works, and am adding this to my new list of favorites. As with Cottrell’s other books, Millions and Framed, Cosmic is written from a child’s perspective, lending an interesting and unique outlook to all the events that take place. It is also an entirely original story, like nothing I have ever read before. While narrated by, and written for, a young boy, this cleverly written book can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. —  Madeleine H., Portland, Oregon

And here’s my review:

Frank Cottrell Boyce’s new book Cosmic can be appreciated on many different levels, which means both children and adults will enjoy reading it. Twelve-year-old Liam is constantly being treated as though he’s much older, simply because he’s tall and mature-looking for his age. Boyce sprinkles in many keen life insights beginning on the very first page when Liam says, “everyone lies about their age. Adults pretend to be younger. Teenagers pretend to be older. Children wish they were grown-ups. Grown-ups wish they were children.”

When Liam pretends to be a dad with a daughter who is actually his classmate just so he can win a contest, he finds himself off on an adventure he could have never imagined. He keeps his cool, learning how to be “dadly” by watching other dads and drawing upon lessons he learned playing World of Warcraft.

Liam’s innocent observations on human behavior are very funny and perceptive, and you’ll keep turning the pages to see where they lead to next. At it’s heart, Cosmic is a love story about dads—what it means to be one as well as what it means to have one. I highly recommend it.

Book Review: Boy by Roald Dahl

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My daughter Catherine wrote this review of Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl; it’s one of her favorite books. I recommend this book for all ages and girls, boys, women and men. In short, it should be a hit with everyone.

I love this book! A personal favorite!

If you liked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Twits, The Witches, The Magic Finger, Matilda, or George’s Marvelous Medicine, then you are sure to love Boy. This book is all about pulling pranks, evil headmasters, having your nose cut off in a car accident, getting you tonsils taken out on the family coffee table, putting a dead rat in a cookie jar, and having your sister’s boyfriend smoke goat poop. If you ever want to just have some fun and laugh, then I would highly recommend this book. The author is Roald Dahl, and it tells all about his hilarious childhood. The whole group liked it. — Catherine H., Portland, Oregon

Book Review: Bloomability by Sharon Creech

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Here’s a review sent in by one of the moms in my mother-daughter book club.

Bloomability is a coming of age book that I really enjoyed. It tells the story of a young girl who is sent off to live with her aunt and uncle in a boarding school in Switzerland, where her uncle is headmaster. Sharon Creech writes beautifully about how 13-year-old Dinnie learns to love her new home while still holding on to what she loves about the family she left behind. There are plenty of fun adventures and interesting characters to keep you turning the pages as Dinnie discovers her new life and new friendships and discovers herself in the process. I loved this book, and it lent itself to great discussion at our mother-daughter book club.  —  Ellen S., Portland, Oregon

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