Book Review: Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson

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These reviews for Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson were sent in by readers.

A Mother’s Review

Calle Smith never lives in one place long enough to call it home. While her mother runs from relationships, lonely Calle finds solace in music, creating a song journal as a way to cope with her uprooted life. Kim Culbertson’s intelligent writing provides insight into the longings of this fourteen-year old with heartrending emotion. Not only a must-read for teens, this book presents topics and ideas that make it essential for parents as well. The themes of growth, love and loss pave clear inroads to discussion topics for mothers and daughters. Keeping a song journal is something that can be shared by both generations as a way to more easily understand one another. A high school educator for over ten years and a parent herself, it is easy to see that Culbertson has an affinity for both young adults and parents. She lends encouragement for each of us to find our unique literary voice through the keeping of a song journal. I love her tag line: “What is the soundtrack of your life?” Songs for a Teenage Nomad introduces ideas to explore together through this inspirational story. – Ann F., Salem, Oregon

A Mother’s and Daughter’s Review

Both music and words flow beautifully throughout Songs for a Teenage Nomad, written by Kim Culbertson. The songs lead the reader into the story linking the past to the present and in so doing, build a fragile connection between a mother and a daughter. A secret creates a barrier between them, but as their stories unfold both mother and daughter experience their own rite of passage. Culbertson leans into the complexities of relationships in a brilliant way, and tackles the inner world of a teenage girl with a refreshing respect for the wisdom that lies there. I’m fourteen and my Mom is thirty-nine and we both loved it! We can’t wait for her next book! – Alice and Jaime Y., Nevada County, California

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Book Review: Screenwriting for Teens by Christina Hamlett

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Reader Marci W. from Maui, Hawaii sent in this review:

Screenwriting for Teens, The 100 Principles of Screenwriting Every Budding Writer Must Know, is an in-depth, yet easy to read book for writers of all ages. Author Christina Hamlett motivates any promising screenwriter, with her humorous writing style and detailed, informative understanding of the craft. To call the book a complete how-to manual would be a vast understatement. At the end of each chapter, a section called Brainstorming, provides writing exercises to reinforce the core concepts introduced in the chapter. Also included, is a Look and Learn section that references films, television shows, books and websites that highlight the focal points contained in the chapter.

Offering more than just helpful hints for those with the dreaded “writer’s block,” Screenwriting for Teens is a comprehensive guidebook that covers all genres. Whether writing a Drama, Comedy, Action Adventure or Sci-Fi Film, this is the book to begin or develop your skills. It will be first on my recommended reading list for the Screenwriting Program that I will be offering at my local community college. Thanks a million, Ms. Hamlett, for your brilliance and encouragement, supporting all those with the courage and vision to put their pens to paper, move forward and to not give up!

Book Review: Sarah: Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

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This review was sent in by a young girl who read Sarah: Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan for her mother-daughter book club:

This book was a story told by Anna about how she got her new mother Sarah. Her father put an ad in the paper looking for a new wife. Sarah was from Maine and she came for a visit to see if she wanted to get married. Anna and her brother were worried that she wouldn’t want to stay and be their mother. At the very end of the book, we found out.

This was the first book that we read for our mother-daughter book club. Everyone really liked the book. We talked about lots of things like how hard it is to move to a new place, and we discussed our favorite parts of the book. I especially liked that the book was funny and sad. Everyone agreed that they wanted to read more books in the Sarah: Plain and Tall series. – Hayley P., Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania –  8 years old

Book Review: Lips Touch, Three Times by Laini Taylor and Jim Di Bartolo

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The kisses in Lips Touch, Three Times are not the absent-minded pecks on the cheek, expressions of friendship kinds of kisses. The kisses in these stories are sometimes shy, but also passionate, desperate, and full of longing and expectation. They celebrate life, and they herald death. They are not for the weak of spirit.

Lips Touch, Three Times is written and illustrated by the husband and wife team, Laini Taylor and Jim Di Bartolo. Each of the three stories creates a rich fantasy world that pulls you in so completely you may have difficulty re-entering reality when you put it down.

The stories build in length and complexity. The first, “Goblin Fruit,” is a short piece about Kizzy, a girl who so longs to be kissed, she becomes prey for the goblins. Can the spirit of her grandmother and stories of girls lost before her save Kizzy from the goblin’s kiss?

“Spicy Little Curses Such as These” takes the reader to India, where Estella, an Englishwoman, enters the realm of the dead every day to bargain with a demon for the souls of dead children. The deals she strikes promises an exchange of one soul of a corrupted adult for each child’s soul returned to the land of the living. When an earthquake claims the lives of many children, Estella is able to strike a deal that brings them all back. The price she must pay is to put a curse on a newborn baby girl named Anamique, a curse that will keep her silent or condemn those around her to death. When Anamique grows up, the love of a soldier tests her ability to maintain her silence and protect the life of her love as well as that of her family.

“Hatchling” is the most elaborate and inventive tale of all, creating a world of immortals, the Druj, who long for something they can almost remember having in their now forgotten past. To while away their time they keep girls as pets, casting them off when they grow to be women. Esme and her mother Mab have escaped from Mab’s cage and lived in hiding for fourteen years when Esme’s brown eye turns blue and their entire world turns upside down. With the help of Mihai, a Druj outcast, they hope to rid themselves of the Druj queen forever.

In each story, Di Bartolo’s color illustrations beautifully enhance Taylor’s evocative words to help the tales come alive. Even non-fantasy lovers should find the stories compelling. Topics to discuss include the nature of longing, maintaining self-respect while falling in love, and having the courage to create the life you want to live. Lips Touch is a 2009 National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature. I highly recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls in high school and all readers over 14.

Book Review: Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang

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Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang is a compelling memoir from a girl growing up during the Chinese cultural revolution. Filled with patriotic fervor for the Chinese communist government, Ji-li is at first ashamed to be part of her family, which is persecuted because of her grandfather’s political beliefs. But as she sees injustices heaped onto the heads of many people around her, she gradually becomes disillusioned and no longer believes government propaganda. Ji-Li’s authentic voice inspires discussion about family loyalties, government betrayals, and China’s history.

This is a great book to read with children. I read it aloud to my daughter, who could not believe that this life happened to this girl and so many like her in China. It prompted lots of discussion about families and government. Even kids as young as 10 or 11 should be able to appreciate the story, and it’s fascinating for adults too.

Book Review: Red: The Next Generation of American Writers—Teenage Girls—On What Fires Up Their Lives Today

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Quite a few readers wrote in with reviews of Red: The Next Generation of American Writers—Teenage Girls—On What First Up Their Lives Today. The book was edited by Amy Goldwasser.

This is the best book I’ve ever read that gives one a rare and true glimpse into the hearts and minds of teenage girls today! The book is a bridge that allows moms to cross over into the lives of their daughters in ways never before documented. A MUST READ for all moms and daughters! – Michele C.

A Mother’s Review

The cover of this book called to me—especially this line of the subtitle:  /the next generation of great American writers—teenage girls./ How thrilling to FINALLY see teenage girls getting their literary due. I started reading Red at the bookstore and was, quite simply, blown away. Whether writing about war, fat, boys, prejudice or their hair, these girls’ words are raw, true, searing and their stories should be heard—and shared—by mothers and daughters. I salute Amy Goldwasser for gathering these voices and putting them out into the world – Lori L., Brooklyn, New York

A Mother’s Review

The young women today are so fearless and candid. I couldn’t believe the stories were written by teenagers. Can’t wait to see what else these writers have to say in the near future! – Sandra F.

A Mother’s Review

I really looked forward to reading Red with my 12-year old daughter, and I was not disappointed!  Each day after school we would settle in and then take turns reading the essays. Some were funny, some sad and some heartbreaking, but all felt very true and real. I feel fortunate to have had a unique opportunity to share this book with my pre-teen daughter as now I am much better prepared to understand the teen girl psyche. But more than that, reading these words together has created a deeper sense of trust and intimacy and I feel my daughter will not be scared or reluctant to talk to me about some of these issues in the future. I would love to see a book of essays by these girls when they turn 21. – Dorene O., West Bloomfield, Michigan

A Daughter’s Review

I felt that this book connected my mom and me a little more. Before we started reading Red together, I thought she didn’t understand the life of a teenage girl very well, in my case a pre-teen. (Life for us girls can be pretty difficult, and there is this wonderful book to prove just that.) Once we finished all the funny, sad, and interesting essays, I think my mom better understood the lives of young girls today, and I saw that I wasn’t alone in some of my experiences, especially at school and with friends. After reading this book I realized how different girls can be and I think I understand why they act the way they do. I know I will read this book again when I get older.  I ♥ Red! – Hadley O., West Bloomfield, Michigan

A Mother’s Review

I am a new step-mother to a young teenage girl. Not only are there the normal “teenage issues” but compound those issues with a new family unit and a longing for bio-mom and daddy to get back together and you have one emotional young girl! I pre-ordered this book and gave it to my step-daughter as soon as it arrived. She did not say a whole lot other than the barely audible “thanks.” However, about a week later my husband came home from a visit. She wanted him to let me know how much she is enjoying the book and sharing it with her friends. She really likes it! The stories hit home and resonate with her! This has opened the door for me to engage in dialogue with her surrounding those stories: What in particular did she like? Which stories was she drawn to and what did those stories mean to her in her own life? As a new mom, I say thank you to the author for compiling such an intriguing set of life stories that resonate with a 14 year old and helped to “fire-up” real dialogue! – Deborah F., Detroit, Michigan

Book Review: Petey by Ben Mikaelson

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This review was sent in by one of the girls in my mother-daughter book club after we read Petey by Ben Mikaelson.

Petey is one of the most touching and thought provoking books I have ever read. It is the sweet, yet sad tale of a person growing up in mental institutions because his parents gave him up due to not knowing what was wrong with him. At the time, they didn’t know what Cerebral Palsy was, or that their son had it. Petey finds small pleasures in life, and makes connections with the people who see past his disability and love him for the amazing person he is. I would recommend this book to all old enough to read it, to learn of the heartwarming story, and the ability to look beyond the surface and see the real pleasures in life. – Franny S., Portland, Oregon

Book Review: The New York Stories of Edith Wharton

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Mother-daughter book club reader Inez C. from Arizona sent in this review of The New York Stories of Edith Wharton.

Step into the pages of Edith Wharton’s short stories about turn of the century New York and you find yourself in the midst of a genteel, well mannered society where “doing the right thing” takes the center stage. The language in these stories is elegant, especially Miss Wharton’s descriptions of the architecture and the furnishings. What made this a treasure to share with our daughters, however, was that each of the stories has a lesson within it about making choices that demonstrate empathy and respect for other people. This is something that t so often goes missing in our Me Me Me society where kids—and a lot of adults, too!—are more tuned into their iPods and “American Idol” than they are to what is going on in their own families and neighborhoods.

Each story in this collection makes for a good “What would you do if you were any of these characters” discussion, and we decided to make one of our sessions extra special by accompanying it with a mother and daughter tea party. No jeans and sneakers were allowed at this one! We each dressed up for the reading and the daughters helped make the finger sandwiches. We bought the scones from a local bakery and had several different kinds of tea. To top things off, we even found an older lady who offered to come to our group and talk about rules of etiquette. This tied in well with our Edith Wharton readings because the people in the stories are quite polite and would be aghast to commit social faux pas! What gladdened us the most, though, was that the etiquette lesson made such an impression on our younger members that they each hand-wrote thank you letters to the woman who gave a talk on manners. We are hoping this stays with them through their adult lives, along with the memory of this quality literature and its author.

(Special Note: If you don’t have someone you can get to come and talk about good manners, there is a fun book called The Book of Etiquette, by Michael MacFarlane and published by Main Street/Sterling Publishing Company. It is worth a look and also makes a good present for a teen or tween who needs a politeness nudge.) – Inez C. from Arizona

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