Book Review: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Posted on by

When You Reach Me cover imageMiranda lives with her mom in a New York City apartment. In sixth grade, she and her friend Sal, who lives below her, have earned their parents trust enough to navigate their neighborhood on their own. Together they learn to avoid the group of boys that hang out in front of the old garage and the mentally ill homeless man who habituates the corner by their homes.

That’s where When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead starts, but from there the narrative builds into a puzzle, where Miranda gets notes from someone who seems to know a lot about her and her friends. The notes ask her to write down a story, to be delivered at some point in the future. They say the story hasn’t happened yet, but she’ll know when it does.

Miranda can feel change in the air. Her first inkling of it was when her friend Sal got punched by a kid for an unknown reason, and then Sal started to withdraw from their friendship. Another clue was her budding friendship with Colin and Annemarie, who she starts to hang out with at lunch. The three of them work together at a local deli to earn sandwiches. Then Miranda gets to know Marcus, the kid who punched Sal. He’s older and really nice other than the punch, and he seems fascinated with the possibility of time travel, a topic that confuses her.

As the puzzle of the notes builds, Miranda learns a lot about making and keeping friends and speaking up when there’s a problem to be solved. It’s difficult to say too much about When You Reach Me without giving away the mystery of the notes, but I felt Miranda’s story reveals a lot about the tenacity of the human spirit, the tenderness of love, and the timelessness of friendship. This small book unfolds seamlessly while giving readers a lot to think about. By the end, you may find yourself rereading passages that contained clues along the way to get the full impact. I highly recommend it for mother-daughter book club with girls ages 9 to 13.

Save

Book Review: Blank Confession by Pete Hautman

Posted on by

Blank Confession cover imageTeenager Shayne Blank walks into the local police station with a confession: he has killed someone. Detective Rawls is skeptical, but agrees to take his statement. The story unfolds through chapters that tell what Rawls hears, and others told by Mikey, Shayne’s friend and frequent target of school bully and drug dealer Jon Brande.

When Shayne and Mikey first meet Shayne is new to school, and his story about his background keeps changing. One day his parents have both died and he lives with an aunt, another his parents are both part of high-security intelligence teams and Shayne stays safe by living away from them. Despite his shifting story Mikey likes him, and Shayne acts as his protector, one who can hold his own in a fight. But Jon doesn’t like being taken down a notch, and he doesn’t plan to play fair when getting back at Shayne.

Pete Hautman has a way of asking readers to look at uncomfortable issues brought to light by flawed characters, and in Blank Confession, he takes on the issue of violence and drug use among teens. Adults don’t know how to uncover the truth of the problem, or influence it significantly, so they often stand helplessly by as the dramas play out and teens figure things out for themselves.

The mystery in Blank Confession unfolds in two ways: the story of Shayne’s unknown background and the story that leads up to his confession. Mikey as a narrator is funny and upfront about the insecurities he feels because he is short and is often mistaken for a Mexican, though he is of Haitian descent. Having Detective Rawls as a filter for Shayne’s story also lets readers see some of the background that took place years before Shayne and Mikey’s story started to play out. It’s a fascinating blend that Hautman weaves together expertly to keep readers entranced and guessing until the end. I recommend it for readers aged 14 and up.

Adults Can Find Plenty to Love in Books for Children/Teens

Posted on by

I recently read an article from MacLean’s about adults turning to children’s books for comfort when they they face challenges in life. The article got me thinking about adults enjoying books written for children for many reasons, not just during trying times.

I have to admit that I was surprised when I started reading books with my daughters for book club more than a decade ago at how much I genuinely liked the books. This was no chore, or something that I thought I should do as a bonding experience for my daughters and me. Instead I found myself appreciating children’s literature in a new way.

It’s easy to assume that kids books have simple plots and offer older readers no opportunity for introspection. That’s why people often ask me if I get bored reading books to recommend here for mother-daughter book clubs. But I find the opposite to be true in many cases. Kids understand complex emotions, maybe even better than adults, because they’re still close to raw emotional expressions. The best writers for kids get that, and they don’t pull punches when it comes time to write nuanced stories that make readers of all ages think.

Another thing to consider is that kids are experts at spotting lectures coming from adults, so books that they want to read must weave a message seamlessly in with the story. Plus, timeless stories for children often hold up to second or third or fourth readings or more because the message has layers, meaning that as children get older they will find more meaning as they understand more about the world about them. Adults may be more likely to grasp the whole meaning on a first reading, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy the story less.

Here’s a  short list of some of my old and new favorites with appeal to kids in different age groups. I hope these titles inspire you to pick up a book and enjoy reading it with your child, or even just to discover the joy of reading books for children with classic staying power.

Elementary school readers ages 9 and 10

  • Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
  • Matilda by Roald Dahl
  • Laugh With the Moon by Shana Burg
  • Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes
  • Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
  • Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Middle school readers ages 11 to 13

  • Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce
  • The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein
  • Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

High school readers ages 14+

  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
  • Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  • I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
  • A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Want more suggestions? Take a look at List Challenge’s Top 100 Children’s Novels. All the books on the list are great for adults to read too.

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Pieces We Keep by Kristina McMorris

Posted on by

The Pieces We Keep cover imageIt’s been two years since Audra’s husband died, but she can’t let go of her grief and move on. Especially now that her seven-year-old son Jack is having night terrors and difficulty at school. In a chance encounter, she meets Sean, a combat veteran whose story and family history may lead to clues that will help Jack.

Decades before, during the turbulent times of World War II, Vivian is torn between two men: Isaak, who is trapped in Germany with the outbreak of war, and Gene, the brother of her long-time friend. Wartime separations and reunions complicate matters as she struggles with understanding her own heart.

The Pieces We Keep by Kristina McMorris follows the stories of both women, whose lives are intertwined in unexpected ways even though there is no obvious link. McMorris weaves in fascinating historical details while crafting a story that unveils clues of the connection as it goes along. When long hidden family secrets are at last unveiled, they bring the novel to a satisfying end.

Book clubs reading The Pieces We Keep will find topics for rich discussion, including the emotional bond between parents and children, the meaning of love and marriage at different times in history, spiritual beliefs about life after death, and the role family secrets can play in our lives.

The author gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Posted on by

The Graveyard Book cover imageA man named Jack murders Bod’s family when Bod is just a toddler. Bod toddled to escape unaware he was escaping or that he was toddling into a graveyard, where the permanent occupants decide to raise him with the help of a guardian who can come and go and bring food and clothing.

As Bod grows he has the run of the graveyard,; he even masters some of the skills usually not shared with the living. But eventually he becomes curious about the world outside the gates and seeks to learn more about the land of the living. What he doesn’t know is that the man named Jack never forgets about the baby who got away, and Jack is certain that one day he will find what he’s looking for to finish the job he started.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman has an unlikely start for a children’s book: a family killed for unknown reasons. But this Newbery winning story doesn’t dwell on the details that lead to Bod’s childhood in the graveyard. Instead it tells the tale of a child raised unconventionally, by parents and guardians who are by definition not normal, yet he knows he’s loved and cared for unconditionally.

Bod’s adventures both inside and outside the graveyard’s iron gates and stone walls are inventive and intriguing. And his foray into the school system will certainly have some readers wishing they had his skills in dealing with bullies. The action, while somewhat dark and creepy, stays appropriate for young readers without an undue amount of anxiety and tension as the story builds to a climax.

Pen and ink illustrations in black and white capture the feeling of the graveyard and its inhabitants. There’s even a bit of history woven into the stories that Bod learns from those who died at different times over the past century. Gaiman’s mastery of storytelling, including some elements of fantasy involving ghouls, ancient creatures, and a long-lived criminal society, makes The Graveyard Book a great choice for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 12. I highly recommend it.

Book Review: Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce

Posted on by

Cold Spell cover imageGinny and Kai have grown up in the shadow of Kai’s grandmother’s fear of the cold and evil things that lurk outside her protection. They get around her disapproving glares by meeting on their building’s rooftop, where climbing roses have grown to create a secret arbor where they can meet undetected.

But when Kai’s grandmother dies and a mysterious woman named Mora arrives along with the cold and ice, Kai is somehow mesmerized by her. When Kai and Mora disappear, Ginny believes the answer to finding them and bringing Kai back lies in his grandmother’s mysterious cookbook, which has spells and charms to ward off evil and clues to fighting the snow queen.

Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce is a modern re-imagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale “The Snow Queen.” Ginny’s odyssey takes her from the streets of Atlanta north into Tennessee, Kentucky and Minnesota. Tracking Mora she follows the bitter cold that trails where the snow queen hopes to hide. In Ginny’s travels she meets up with people who help her in her quest—a wealthy couple and a group of “travelers” who already know about the magical creatures Ginny is only just learning of. The cold Pearce describes has a tendency to get into your bones, so you may want to keep a cup of hot chocolate handy to warm yourself up as you read.

The story addresses issues of love, tenacity, courage, finding friendship in unlikely places, and having the strength to be yourself. I recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up.

The publisher gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Princess in the Opal Mask by Jenny Lundquist

Posted on by

The Princess in the Opal Mask cover imageAbandoned as an infant, Elara has been raised in the countryside by the Ogden family, who has tolerated and used her as a servant in exchange for the money they receive from the Royal Orphanage for her upkeep. When she gets the chance to travel to the royal city of Allegria for the princess’s 16th birthday, she knows she won’t be going as a guest at the ball.

Wilha is the princess in the opal mask. Her kingdom of Gallandria is known for it’s opals, and she’s been made to wear a mask studded with the jewels every day of her life. Wilha is obedient, but no one pays her much attention until her father betroths her to the prince of a neighboring kingdom to seal a peace pact.

The lives of the two girls intersect in a way that neither could have expected when they are thrust together on the princess’s birthday. Not knowing or trusting each other, they nevertheless have to rely on each other as they find themselves playing unfamiliar roles and fighting for their lives as well as the peace of their kingdom.

The Princess in the Opal Mask by Jenny Lundquist presents an elaborate world full of secrets and court intrigue as well as a bit of romance. Told in alternating chapters with the voices of both girls, it captures the longing they feel to be in control of their own destinies. There’s also a bit of mystery built in as the girls work to discover just who may be working against them.

This first in a two-book series for young adults is a great introduction to a world that has elements of the familiar and of fantasy, and it ends with just enough of a cliffhanger to bring a satisfying conclusion to this story while whetting your appetite for the next. I recommend The Princess in the Opal Mask for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 12 and up.

The publisher gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Family Literacy Is All About Reading Together—That Includes Magazines As Well As Books!

Posted on by

November is National Family Literacy Month. A whole month devoted to family literacy is a great excuse to read together every day. Even if you can find ten minutes to spend with your child or children sharing stories, you have found time to connect in a way that can strengthen your bond and boost your kids’ reading skills.

You don’t even have to read books to get the benefits. Magazines for kids are great for family reading, because they usually have short articles that can help kids learn about the world around them and that can lead to discussions with parents. Here are some of the top magazines for kids that you may want to check out. Descriptions provided come from the publications’ websites. And if you want to keep those magazines coming and providing benefits all year, you may want to consider a subscription.

Ranger Rick—an award-wining magazine filled with amazing photography, fascinating stories, fun activities and more. All profits from the sale of the magazine support the National Wildlife Federation.

National Geographic Kids—National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books, website, apps, games, toys, television series and events and is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core.

Cricket—Cricket publishes only the highest quality fiction – fantasy, historical fiction, myths and legends, humor, adventure, contemporary fiction – and nonfiction stories for kids on culture, history, science, and the arts. Cricket‘s creativity spurs readers to express themselves in new ways.

Highlights for Children—Highlights for Children has been helping children become their best selves for more than 65 years through magazines for children and toddlers, puzzle clubs and kids’ games. Whether it is Hidden Pictures® puzzles, Goofus and Gallant™, the Timbertoes® or Puzzlemania®, Highlights helps your children enjoy reading, learning and thinking.

Click—Young children are always asking questions: What is an insect? What do animals eat? Why do birds migrate? CLICK has the answers! Each issue takes children on a journey of discovery about the world around them, one exciting topic at at time, sparking a lifelong love of reading and learning about nature, the sciences, and the arts.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...