Book Review: Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

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Extraordinary imageWhen Mallory leaves the world of faeries to befriend a human named Phoebe Rothschild, her only thought is securing the future of her people. But as she gets to know Phoebe she wavers in her purpose, so her brother Ryland is sent in to do what Mallory cannot. With the future of the faerie kingdom at stake, he knows he must not fail, even if it means manipulating Phoebe and isolating her from her family and her beliefs about herself.

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin straddles the world of fantasy and reality with a look at how vulnerable teen girls can be to undue influence from friends and boyfriends. All Phoebe knows is that Mallory is her friend, the sister she never had. They do everything together, and because Phoebe lacks self-confidence, she often goes along with anything Mallory suggests.

Then everything changes when Ryland comes into the picture. Ryland is manipulative and abusive, yet Phoebe is fascinated by him and wants to please him. He isolates Phoebe from her family and turns her against Mallory. Under his influence, Phoebe hardly recognizes herself or understands the things she’s willing to do at his request.

Ryland has a magical advantage in turning Phoebe to his will; even so, this should be a great issue to discuss in a mother-daughter book club with girls who are 14 and older and may be starting to date. Some questions to ask include: How can you tell the difference between a caring relationship and one that’s manipulative? What made Phoebe so vulnerable to control? What could she have done differently?

These are major issues for teens, who may be venturing into new relationships without parental oversight for the first time ever. Phoebe is an interesting character to discuss—she’s kind, she’s thoughtful, she’s not overly focused on material possessions. Her mother is a strong role model for her, yet Phoebe must also realize that she needs strength of character and belief in her own abilities to succeed as she grows.

There’s so much more to talk about, including Mallory and Phoebe’s relationship, the faerie world, an ancient pact and a discussion of what it means to be ordinary as compared to extraordinary. I highly recommend it.

The Pleasure of Reading Kids’ Books as an Adult

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My non-mother-daughter-book-club friends are often surprised when I say I really like reading the same books my daughters do. They’re inclined to think that anything that appeals to kids and teens can’t possibly hold the interest of adults. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, I would say that some of my favorite books of all time are ones I have shared with my daughters. Part of the reason is definitely the fact that when we read together we also talk about issues brought up in the book. But it’s also true that many books written for children are simply good literature as well as fun to read.

Authors who successfully write for children usually have to get into the plot quicker to hold their readers’ attention. They also typically do not have the luxury of taking a long time to build their characters or write page after page of background. But they still have to tell a good story. And a good story well told resonates with readers whether they are nine or 90.

Here are a few of my favorite picks for books that appeal to two, or more, generations of readers.

9 and 10 year olds

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

11 through 13 year olds

Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce

The Healing Spell by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang

Ages 14 and up

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Book Review: The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

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The Cardturner imageAlton has always known that his parents look to his Great Uncle Lester as their salvation. Uncle Lester is very wealthy, and they hope that when he dies he will leave them lots of money. So when Alton gets a call asking him to sit with blind Uncle Lester and help him play bridge, they think this is the perfect way to get into Lester’s good graces.

Alton doesn’t know much about Lester, just stories he’s heard through the years about how grumpy and selfish the old man is, and how he had a tragic past. But the longer he works for Lester and learns more about his dry wit, his genius ability to play bridge, and the true story about his past, the more Alton begins to figure out a path for his own life.

The Cardturner by Louis Sachar offers young adults more of what they may have loved in Holes with lessons on bridge built in. While the bridge technicalities may sound boring (and it definitely can be) Sachar offers his readers respite by indicating which passages are full of bridge jargon. Readers can skip those sections without losing any of the beauty of the story.

And this is one beautiful story. Alton is drifting aimlessly at the beginning of the book. He’s lost his girlfriend to his best friend and has no idea what he wants to do with his life after high school. The lessons Alton learns from his uncle, and as he learns to play bridge himself, also make for good conversation in mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up: how do you define success in yourself and others, how can you stand up for yourself and the things you want even if means going against someone you care about, and what makes a good partner, in cards and in life.

The chapters are short, which makes it easy to keep turning pages. Both Alton and Uncle Lester have compelling voices and the ability to make simple statements that carry a lot of meaning. The bridge descriptions may get tedious, or they may inspire you to learn more about this game of strategy. Either way, there’s a lot to love in this gem of a book. I highly recommend it.

Author Kari Lee Townsend Talks About Her Tween Series: The Samantha Granger Experiment

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Today, author Kari Lee Townsend sends in a guest post about her new series for tween readers, The Samantha Granger Experiment.

Kari Lee Townsend photo

Kari Lee Townsend

“Hello out there in blogger land. I am thrilled to be here today 🙂 My name is Kari Lee Townsend, and I am the author of a series for tweens called The Samantha Granger Experiment. My first book FUSED came out in November of 2010, and I am so excited about it.

FUSED is the story of eighth-grader Samantha Granger who is obsessed with all aspects of technology, but especially her cell phone. But when she touches a meteor while talking on her phone, her life is changed forever. She is now permanently fused to her cell phone, giving a whole new meaning to the words, “Talk to the hand!” as her body now has all the capabilities of her phone: GPS, phone, text, camera, etc. She secretly calls herself a Digital Diva as she rushes to answer emergency calls, but keeping her identity a secret is not easy as sparks fly (literally!) between her and Trevor, her dreamy crush. Samantha has to get a handle on her abilities and quick, because when Sam gets kidnapped and the entire town is in danger, she is the only one who can save them.

I wrote this book because we live in an age where society is obsessed with technology. It changes so quickly, it’s hard to keep up. In fact, my children know a lot more about technology than I do, so trust me…I confer with them a lot;) I have three boys and one girl, ranging from pre-teen to full blown teenagers, who constantly carry around and play with their gadgets, especially their cell phones, generally driving me crazy 🙂 So one day I jokingly said, “If you guys don’t watch out, you’re going to turn into one of those machines!” Then I stopped, sucked in a breath, and thought…OMG what a great idea for a book, and voila, Samantha Granger was born! Now I tell them, play away so I can study you, all in the name of research, you know. Ha ha…I do believe I am the one who is driving them nuts now!

This series is a lot of fun to write with a topic I think kids of many ages can relate to and enjoy. In Book two, FEARLESS, Samantha Granger has finally come to terms with being different. The only way to keep her situation under control is to stay far away from Trevor Hamilton or risk bringing Digital Diva out of retirement. She gets her wish when the government gets involved. They’ve discovered Sam’s identity and threaten to expose her if she doesn’t cooperate. She’s whisked off to Washington, D.C. to a special school for gifted students called IPR (Institute of Phenomenal Research), where she discovers she’s not alone. Only, when a mole threatens their very existence, it’s up to Sam and her fellow Phenoteens to save themselves.

Thanks so much for having me, and I hope you all enjoy FUSED as much as I enjoyed writing it. There are discussion questions that accompany the book on my website http://www.karileetownsend.com as well as some other fun stuff. And feel free to write to me. I love to hear from my readers. Happy reading and don’t forget to embrace your inner Diva :-)”

Thanks for visiting Kari. Readers can also check out my Mother Daughter Book Club.com review of FUSED.

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Book Review: The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fused by Kari Lee Townsend

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The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fused by Kari Lee Townsend is part realistic fiction, part science fiction, and part superhero action novel. It’s also funny.

Samantha Granger could get lost in her own home—she has zero sense of direction. So it’s no surprise that she loses her way while returning home through the woods from her friend’s house. What is a surprise is the glowing green crystal she spots, and what happens to her when she touches it.

As Samantha slowly comes to realize she has special powers, she also has to figure out how to control them without everyone in school thinking she’s a freak. Particularly Trevor, who seems to like her as more than just a friend. She also has to solve the mystery of who is behind the string of crimes that have broken out in her small town, and figure out a way to get her parents back together after their separation. Along the way, she’s working on her superhero costume as well as a name for herself, and trying not to freak out that she’s going to die because she touched the crystal.

The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fused should be fun to read for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged nine to 12. Issues to discuss include the role of technology in our lives, confiding in parents, and having confidence in your abilities. This new series should be fun to follow. To learn more about this new series and the author, read Kari Lee Townsend’s blog post about how she came up with the idea for Fused and what you can expect in the next book, Fearless.

Book Review: More Bears! Written by Kenn Nesbitt and Illustrated by Troy Cummings

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More Bears imageKenn Nesbitt is a master storyteller for kids. If you’re familiar with his silly rhymes and wacky poetry, and even if you’re not, you’ll want to check out his book for the youngest readers, More Bears!

The book opens with an author writing a children’s book when he hears children’s voices call out to him to add more bears to the story. Resisting at first, he soon gets into the mood of adding more bears. Pretty soon he’s got bears doing everything from strumming ukuleles and surfing the waves to riding ponies.

Before you know it there are too many bears, and the author wants to expel them from his story. More Bears! is full of repetition, counting, colors, rhymes and so many things children will love to have read to them over and over. The good news is, parents won’t get tired of obliging them. Illustrations, by Troy Cummings, are fun, and you and your child will enjoy matching each written-about bear to the drawing. The premise that children can influence what an author writes should be fun for kids to contemplate too. I highly recommend it for the littlest ones in your life and all the other little ones you know.

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Book Review: Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? by Pamela Keogh

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Jackie or Marilyn image Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Marilyn Monroe are two of the most memorable female icons of the last century. In her own way, each embodied personal style and celebrity, and each held power over those around her.

Jacqueline came from a powerful and privileged family, while Marilyn rose above poverty to become a star, but each was also restricted by the expectations placed on them by others. Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn: Timeless Lessons on Love, Power, and Style by Pamela Keogh compares and contrasts these two women while also speculating as to how they fit into today’s world.

Each chapter highlights a quality Jackie and Marilyn were known for, such as beauty, style, mystery and diva behavior. Questions throughout let the reader ponder whether she is more like Jackie or more like Marilyn or a blend of both. You’ll also find advice on when it may be more advantageous to be more of one or the other. The tone ranges from serious when talking about the big issues Jackie and Marilyn faced, to lighthearted. Lots of sidebars keep this a fast-paced book to read. It’s a lot of fun.

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Book Review: The Heroine’s Bookshelf by Erin Blakemore

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The Heroine's Bookshelf imageImagine pairing some of your favorite heroines in literary history with their female authors and analyzing both the similarities and differences in their lives. That’s what Erin Blakemore has done in The Heroine’s Bookshelf: Life Lessons, From Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder.

In her introduction, Blakemore talks abut the need to read and find inspiration, especially when times are difficult. She also mentions how she has turned to literary heroines throughout her own life in times of upheaval.

Each chapter highlights a quality, such as Faith, Dignity, and Indulgence, then talks about how a literary heroine displays this quality. Twelve authors and their heroines are covered, including some you may expect, such as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, and others you may not, such as Scarlet O’Hara in Gone With the Wind.

I was fascinated by the barriers so many women had to bringing their stories to print, and how so many authors that we think of as successful struggled with poverty their entire lives. As such, The Heroine’s Bookshelf is fascinating both as a historical look at women writers as well as literary analysis of the characters they wrote.

It would take some work, but I can see a mother-daughter book club with girls aged 14 and up, or a women’s book club, choosing each of Blakemore’s titles and reading it as a group along with the chapter she writes about it. Even if you’re not in a book club with your daughter, you may find this is a great activity for just the two of you take on together.

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