Gossamer

Title: Gossamer

Rating: 4/5

Author: LoisLowry

Pages: 140

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Synopsis:

Have you ever wondered where your dreams come from? Or what dark creatures are lurking out there, waiting for the perfect opportunity to turn your dream into a nightmare?

Littlest One is working hard at her training. Everyone knows that bestowing dreams is not something to be taken lightly. It’s a delicate process, and there are risks involved. If that weren’t enough, her job gets a whole lot harder when a troubled young boy comes to stay at the home where’s she’s been training, a boy who’s nights are often filled with nightmares.

My Reaction:

This was a quick read, but a good one. Once I'd finished, I almost felt like there should be more, but at the same time I thought, "That was just enough." The story explores the answer to the question, "Where do dreams come from?" It illustrates how dreams can give us much needed comfort and strength in the face of harsh realities. Beyond that, it also shows how even though parts of life are bad, that doesn't mean it's ALL bad. We can overcome our negative circumstances and become more than the bad things that have happened to us. It's a sweet, sometimes heart wrenching, story with just a touch of fantasy.

Reader’s Guidance:

This book deals with domestic violence and child abuse. Most of the time there are just hints at it based on the things the young boy says. There is one experience where the boy goes into more detail, which involves him being forced to eat dog food as a punishment.

Similar Books:

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson was the first book to come to mind. I believe I’ve mentioned it on the blog before. The main character is a girl who has been passed around to various foster homes. Her attitude and life experiences reminded me of the boy in Gossamer.

Next Book:

I got my hands on a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! How can I not read a book with a title like that?

The Mysterious Benedict Society

I meant to share this lovely post with all of you last Friday. Obviously that didn't happen. Then I thought, "I'll just do it next Friday." So, obviously, I'm sharing it on Thursday. I just want to keep you on your toes.

Guys, we're only a few days away from it officially being Fall! Don't be surprised if I start sharing some Fall baking because I haven't posted any baking in awhile. Also, we're only a few days away from Hobbit Day! It's a pretty big deal. If you're a nerd. I should make some lembas to celebrate, and yes, I do actually have a go to recipe for lembas. I am one of those nerds.

So, if we were going to have an in person session of The Book Club of Destiny and you were going to bring one lovely Fall themed baked good to share, what would it be?

And now, without further ado, I give you The Mysterious Benedict Society!

Title: The Mysterious Benedict Society

Rating: 4/5

Author: Trenton Lee Stewart

Pages: 485

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Synopsis:

“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?”

How can any child resist such a tempting newspaper ad? If they choose to participate, the must undergo a series of unusual, mind-bending tests to see if they qualify for—well, it’s not quite clear what the results will bring. Even with dozens of children showing up to complete these series of tests, only four are found worthy to proceed. They soon learn that there’s terrible danger at hand, and only they can stop it and save the world.

My Reaction:

Adventurous, intelligent, and stressing the importance of our own individual strengths, The Mysterious Benedict Society is an adventure worth embarking on.

The story holds some unique concepts and has a few twists that I didn’t see coming. Each character is individual and well crafted. They feel like children you could actually meet in real life. They each have their own strengths, weaknesses, and view points, and it’s only by working together as a team that they can complete their seemingly impossible task. This major plot point was something I thoroughly enjoyed. It reminds me that everyone has something good to provide to a situation. It was also a good reminder that we sometimes neglect to see the value or importance of an individual. Every one of our four main children are essential to success, even if they can’t always see how. It’s only in the end that we see how each of them would play a necessary part.

Full of action, adventure, and a bit of mystery, I enjoyed this story more than others that it reminded me of. The major difference is that I felt that The Mysterious Benedict Society could transition well to older readers, even adult readers, better than some others that seem to fit mostly within a certain young age range. I could see this as a fun adventure for parents and children to enjoy together.

Although there are more books in the series, I felt that this book also does well as a standalone book if you don’t quite feel like investing in a whole series at present.

Reader’s Guidance:

There is one light scuffle between one of the main characters and some other kids, but nothing major.

I wasn’t bothered by any content of the book.

Similar Books:

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

This story has a few more fantastical elements to it in that eating candy gives you special abilities. This is another story filled with adventure and mystery.

Next Book:

I’ve read a good handful of books by Lois Lowry (author of The Giver), but I realized there’s one on my shelf that I still haven’t read. Next up is Gossamer!

Anne of Green Gables

I'm not going to lie. I've kind of been procrastinating writing this blog post. I finished reading Anne of Green Gables some time last week, and I've had plenty of time to write a post about it. Even now, I've been letting myself get distracted by Facebook and also a little bit by my husband playing Battlefront 2. As for the rest of the week, I've mostly been catching up on year's worth of scrapbooking, re-watching episodes of The Office, and spending hours in family history research because that's a thing I do. Oh, and cuddling with my cat. All very important things, especially that last one.

It should be noted that I did enjoy reading Anne's story. I feel like her story is only just beginning (which makes sense as there are like eight books in the series). I'll definitely have to get my hands on the other books.

Title: Anne of Green Gables

Rating: 4/5

Author: L. M. Montgomery

Genre: Classic/Children's

Synopsis:

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are siblings who manage the family farm of Green Gables. They are getting older and could use a little help around the place, so they decide to adopt a young orphan boy. They're about to get more than they bargained for when they get Anne Shirley instead, a spirited girl with her head up in the clouds. Anne has a knack for getting herself in to trouble, and Marilla wonders if she'll ever be able to raise her into a respectable young women.

My Reaction:

I didn't really have any specific expectations for this book. All I new about it was that it was adapted into a movie back in the 80's and that there's currently an adaptation of it on Netflix. I know people who are a fan of the 80's film, which is part of what sparked my curiosity in the book in the first place. Now that I've read the book, I can see how a movie adaptation would be wonderful, so I may have to find a way to watch it and see what I think.

But back to the book.

Anne Shirley certainly brought a smile to my face. Corey, who grew up with the movie rendition, said that I actually reminded him of her. Apparently I also have a flair for the dramatic on occasion. Ha! She has a wild imagination and is extremely talkative. It's quite entertaining to see her way of thinking and how it gets her into trouble so often. But the other great thing about Anne is that we get to see her grow and mature. And while there are some attributes that I agree Anne and I have in common, Anne also reminded me of some young girls that I know. This made Anne seem even more real, and it made reading her adventures even more entertaining.

I loved Anne's spunk, imagination, and knack for getting into trouble! This was a very enjoyable book and a great start to the series. I look forward to reading more of Anne's story in the future.

Reader’s Guidance:

Nothing to fear.

Similar Books:

Other classics that explore everyday challenges and the challenges that come with growing up. Perhaps something like Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.

Next Book:

Guys, I can't decide! Do I read the next book in the Anne of Green Gables series? I'm interested in reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but unfortunately, so is everyone else apparently as all the copies are checked out of the library. Curses! I also received a copy of the third book of the Sheer Power series in the mail the other day. I could read that. Or do I just read something completely different entirely? I can't make up my mind, so I'm enlisting you to make up my mind for me. You should feel honored.

What book do you think I should read next? Give me a good one 😃

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

Title: The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

Rating: 4/5

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Pages: 385

Genre: Children’s Fantasy

Synopsis:

Peregrine has always strived to make her parents proud by being the best Lakti she can be. She trains hard, is one of the fastest runners around, and is full of bravery—the complete opposite of the Bamarre servants in the castle who everyone knows are weak and cowardly. But there’s only one problem with all of her efforts—Peregrine isn’t a Lakti but a Bamarre. With this new knowledge, Peregrine has a difficult choice to make—she can keep it all a secret and let things continue as normal, or she can complete a daunting task given to her by the fairy Halina to free her people from oppression.

My Reaction:

If you’ve ever read and enjoyed any other of Gail Carson’s Levine’s books, you’ll enjoy this one as well. If you haven’t read anything by Gail Carson Levine, you should!

On the back cover, the book is described as “a compelling and thought-provoking fantasy,” and I think I have to agree with that statement. It’s thought provoking in that it deals a lot with prejudice and overcoming certain mindsets. I kept thinking as I read this story that this is such a good book for some of the things you can see in the world right now.

Peregrine is an amazing heroine. She’s strong, bold, speaks her mind, can get herself out of tricky situations, but it takes a major eye opening moment—the revelation that she’s actually a Bamarre and not a Lakti—for her to recognize her own prejudice and the prejudices of others. What gives this story a bit of a heart-wrenching element is that she also has to come face to face with the mindsets and prejudices of her own parents, both adopted and biological. The stark contrast between her adoptive father’s reactions versus her adoptive mother’s reactions are fascinating in that we can see two possible outcomes from people with similar backgrounds and beliefs. Through her parents we can see two sides of the coin—the ill effects of prejudice versus the benefits of overcoming prejudice.

The other thing that is so great about Peregrine is that even she has her weaknesses to overcome. She gains wisdom through her experiences and can then be hugely influential in aiding an oppressed people.

Reader’s Guidance:

There are elements of war and oppression in this story. There are a couple of deaths mentioned, mostly by way of stabbing. There’s some slapping of inferiors that happens. There’s also one scene where a man is flogged.

Similar Books:

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Next Book:

One book I’ve been meaning to read for awhile now is Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I know some people who are a fan of the TV miniseries from the 80’s. I’ve never seen it myself, but it’s gotten me interested in the story itself. I know there’s quite a few books in the series, but for now we’ll just worry about book one.

Happy reading!

Crenshaw

Title: Crenshaw

Rating: 5/5

Author: Katherine Applegate

Pages: 245

Genre: Children’s

Synopsis:

Jackson is all about the facts. There’s always a logical explanation for everything. He’s been told that he has an old soul, whatever that means, but of one thing he is absolutely sure—he’s much too old to have an imaginary friend.

Crenshaw is a cat, a rather large one at that, who loves doing cartwheels and handstands and taking bubble baths. He’s also Jackson’s imaginary friend. But why would an imaginary friend that has been gone for years suddenly show up now? Jackson doesn’t have time for that, especially not when his family has fallen on hard times and they might have to live in their minivan…again.

My Reaction:

You may remember that the last book I read by Katherine Applegate was The One and Only Ivan, a brilliant book that should be on your list of books to read before you die if it isn’t already. This book is another winner! If I absolutely had to choose a favorite between the two, I’d probably go with Ivan, but this was a sweet story that gave a little perspective of both the parent and the child in a situation where money is tight and homelessness is a very real possibility. I don’t think I’ve read another book quite like this one.

I enjoyed Crenshaw himself. I wish I would have come up with such a cool imaginary friend at some point in my life. Besides his coolness factor, the real thing that makes Crenshaw resonate with readers is that he represents that need for a friend and he fulfills that in a wise and unique way, being that he’s a cat and all. I was particularly touched by the idea that Crenshaw’s purpose was to fill that friend role as long as he was needed. Like Mary Poppins or Nanny McPhee, he would stay until his work was done. And then, he would be available should a need arise again. It causes me to reflect on the people in my life who have been a strength to me when I’ve needed it. Some are still there. Some are not just because we tend to lose connections as life goes on, but they are no less meaningful to me. Crenshaw may be imaginary, but he represents the very real advice, love, and comfort I’ve received from various sources throughout my life. Not only that, but he teaches the importance of being honest with yourself. Even Jackson finds that some facts are very hard to face.

Reader’s Guidance:

Nothing as far as I’m concerned.

Similar Books:

If you like this, I reckon anything by Kate DiCamillo will suit your fancy.

Next Book:

 I have a confession to make. First of all, I studied English in college (That's not the confession. I'm leading up to it.) As such an educated person, you would think that there would be some books I must have read. I must know and love all the classics, right? (FYI, I don't think it's necessary to love all classics... I think some are lame. Shh, don't tell anyone.) While I've had a fair dosing of the classics and other books that frequent the lists of must read books, some of them I've somehow managed to not read even after all this time. Heck, there are some books that pretty much every person in my generation had to read in elementary school but I didn't. What's up with that? (Here's looking at you Hatchet and/or Brian's Winter which I still have never read.) 

So here's the confession: I haven't read a single book by one of the Bronte sisters. 

For awhile now I've thought that was a crime and I need to fix that. I mean, I've actually been to their home, walked on the moors, maybe wandered through a graveyard, and yet, I haven't read a single word they wrote. It's time I change that.

Next up is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I was told that this was the one I absolutely had to read, so it seems like a good place to start. 

Raymie Nightingale

Title: Raymie Nightingale

Rating: 4/5

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Pages: 263

Genre: Children’s

Synopsis:

Raymie has a plan. All she has to do is win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition. If she does that, her picture will get in the paper, and if her picture gets in the paper her father will be so proud that he’ll come rushing back home to her instead of staying with the dental hygienist he ran off with. But before she can do that, she must learn how to twirl a baton.

At her lessons, she meets Louisiana and Beverly who have their own plans for the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition. This could be much more complicated than Raymie thought.

My Reaction:

Kate DiCamillo has done it again! Seriously, I don’t need to write reviews for her books. Just go read them all. It was interesting to read this one in contrast to Flora and Ulysses: The illuminated Adventures since they both deal with similar family drama (divorce vs dad ran away with the dental hygienist), but both situations are dealt with differently and have a bit of a different outcome.

Something I enjoy about DiCamillo’s stories it that the characters are each uniquely themselves. You could describe them individually as if they were people you actually knew. The differences of these three girls don’t stop them from coming together and having adventures. In fact, it’s those very differences (and I suppose some found similarities) that get the adventure ball rolling in the first place.

It’s a simple yet thoughtful story that explores dreams, heartaches, and how things don’t always happen according to plan (which isn’t always a bad thing).

I thought Raymie’s thoughts were sometimes a little repetitive (which, let’s be honest, is probably how most of our minds work a good part of the time), but all in all, this was an enjoyable book and well worth the read.

Reader’s Guidance:

Nothing to fear as far as I’m concerned. There is an instance where someone passes away from natural causes, and a moment in a nursing home where a woman is crying out and it frightens the girls.

Similar Books:

I just discovered that there is a sequel book all about Louisiana! It's called Louisiana's Way Home, and it came out in October of last year. That one is probably worth a read also!

Next Book:

Next on our list is Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. You may remember her as the author of The One and Only Ivan, which I absolutely loved! I'm hoping this book will be just as great!

Mustaches For Maddie

Hello, all! I hope you've had a wonderful week and have been able to squeeze in some reading! Here's the latest book review!

Title: Mustaches for Maddie

Rating: 4/5

Author: Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Pages: 256

Genre: Children’s

Synopsis:

Maddie loves making people laugh, and she doesn’t know of any better way than to stick a fake mustache on her face. Mustaches make everything funnier! She hopes it will be enough to impress Cassie, the queen of the class, so she can hang out with her. Things seem to be working out. She gets to hang out in the cool group, and she’s going to get to play a part in the school play. The only thing not so great is that her arm and leg seem to be acting weird for no reason. That must just be a part of growing up, right?

When her arm and leg start to get worse, her mom insists on taking her to the doctor. It’s only then that Maddie realizes she has a much bigger thing to worry about than cool kids and school plays—Maddie has a brain tumor.

Based on a true story of one little girl given the strength to overcome the scariest moment of her life while at the same time learning the importance of compassion and it's all thanks to a ton of mustaches.

My Reaction:

My first thought when completing this book was, “Books like this need to exist.” The fact of the matter is that Maddie isn’t the only young girl who’s had to face a tumor, whether benign or cancerous. I appreciate that her parents wrote this book based on their experience because I know that there are others who can take strength from it.

The reason why I picked up the book in the first place is because in the past few years I’ve known quite a few people who have had to battle cancer. Three of those people were members of my own family. My brother had a brain tumor—that honestly, right there, is the reason why I wanted to read Maddie’s experience. It’s probably also the reason that I was very invested and on the edge of my seat the whole time. Spoiler: I knew Maddie was going to survive the ordeal. That still didn’t make it any less of a tear jerker when it came to the doctor visits and surgery prep. I may not be 12 years old like she is in the story (she was 9 in real life), but doctors and medical things freak me out. I’m extremely terrified of needles. So her whole experience with having to face some medical procedures on her own and being afraid was very relatable to me.

The other great thing about this book is that it’s not just about dealing with hard, scary things. It’s about compassion and recognizing that everyone has their own hard, scary things to deal with at some point or another. It also deals with bullying, something that, unfortunately, many children have to deal with.

I also enjoyed Maddie herself and getting a chance to remember what it was like to be that age. I kind of laughed to myself a few times as I thought, “Yep, that’s how it was. I totally walked around the track at recess and just talked.”

Reader’s Guidance:

Nothing of concern.

Similar Books:

Ida B by Katherine Hannigan -- This book almost immediately came to mind. Instead of a young girl being sick, it's her mother who becomes sick. Ida B has a very hard time dealing with the situation and the sacrifices her family must make. The reaction to the situation is different, but there's still something important to be gained here as we watch Ida B slowly come to terms with the situation. Like Maddie, Ida B's story deserves to be read.

Next Book:

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. That's right. I discovered another one of her books I haven't read at the library. As she is still one of my all time favorites, I must read it!!!! 

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Title: Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Rating: 5/5

Author: KateDiCamillo

Pages: 231

Genre: Children’s

Synopsis:

She is a natural-born cynic! He is an unassuming squirrel! Together, Flora & Ulysses will conquer villains, defend the defenseless, and protect the weak. Or something.

That’s directly from the inside flap of the book cover, and I didn’t think I could do any better than that. Although, I suppose it doesn’t hurt for you to know that this all began when Ulysses was sucked up by a vacuum cleaner, which experience suddenly gives him abnormal powers for a squirrel. Let the adventures begin!

My Reaction:

Unlike Flora, I am not a natural-born cynic. It seems that I am more easily moved by simple things in my old age. (For the record, I know I’m not actually old. It just sounds better to say it that way than, “Man, I swear lately I’ve been turning into a big baby over things like flying squirrels!” Or something.) So it was with this book. The end brought a tear to my eye and I may have even put my hand to my heart—an outward expression of my mind screaming, “This is so sweet!”

But enough about tears. Let me tell you how great this book is.

As I was starting to read Flora & Ulysses, I happened to show my husband, Corey, one of the illustrations. He took a look at the girl and the squirrel then looked at me and said, “You read the weirdest books,” to which I quickly countered with, “No, I read the best books!” Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite children’s authors, and this book just furthered solidified my love for her work.

This story was a fun and marvelous adventure from page one. Flora, besides being a cynic, loves comics, and I enjoyed the way that often came out not just in the story itself but in how the story was told. On occasion, instead of full text, we are treated to a page or two of panels and speech bubbles (kind of like The Invention of Hugo Cabret if you are familiar with that…only that one just uses pictures). I also thoroughly enjoyed each and every character who is unique in their own way and easily imaginable. And again, here I was just expected a fun story, not really thinking there would be something I could take away from it, and lo and behold! There it was! A golden nugget of wisdom hidden between the pages. It was fun to take part in the adventure and to watch the characters learn and grow. I laughed. I thought. My eyes watered. Yep. Sounds like a keeper.

This book won the Newbery Medal for 2014, and it is well deserving of that award.

Reader’s Guidance:

Nothing to fear as far as I’m concerned.

Similar Books:

The first book that came to mind was The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson. They're quite different in nature and style. Flora is more lighthearted and humorous while still dealing with some heavy topics like divorce or feeling like your mother loves a lamp more than she loves you (true story). Gilly is more of a drama dealing with a family situation that is very much not ideal for the main character (i.e. being in foster care and wanting nothing more than to be with her birth mother). Gilly was also the winner of the Newbery Medal in 1979.

Next Book:

Next on our list is Mustaches for Maddie by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. Be aware that this book is about a twelve year old girl who is diagnosed with a brain tumor. You have been warned!

Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk

Hello, and welcome to another episode of "Listen to Me Talk About how Awesome Liesl Shurtliff is."

Seriously, have you guys read any of these Liesl Shurtliff books yet? If not, what's wrong with you? Just kidding, we can still be friends.

I don't know if you've noticed yet, but I'm a big fan of fairy tales and the retelling thereof. Sometimes it works out great. Sometimes not so great. But all of these books by Liesl Shurtliff fit into the great category. I love seeing how she's re-imagined these stories in a way I haven't seen before. She has good, solid writing that makes this world easy to delve into and imagine. They're fun, touching, adventurous, and there's always something I feel that I take away from the book. Plus, I enjoy how her books have all been connected by the same universe.

Basically, if you are a fan of fairy tales and their retold versions, you must pick up Shurtliff's books!

Title: Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk
Rating: 5/5
Author: Liesl Shurtliff
Pages: 294
Genre: Children's/Fantasy/Fairy Tale

Synopsis:

You know the story--a young lad, giants, and a beanstalk leading up to the sky. Need I say more?

Well, perhaps the story you always knew to be true isn't exactly the truth. Maybe not all giants are bad. Maybe they don't really want to grind our bones to make their bread. They do, however, come down and steal all the crops and villagers...but maybe there's a reason for that, and maybe there's just one lad who can figure it out and save the day.

Jack has always longed for greater adventure than his simple farm life can give him, and he gets the perfect opportunity when the giants appear and raid his village, kidnapping his father in the process.

Can Jack save his father before it's too late?

My Reaction:

In case you didn't get enough of my reaction above, let me restate that this is a great book! I will admit that I like Rump and Red slightly more, but it still earned a 5/5. Like I said, it's adventurous and fun, and I love the messages that some things are worth more than wealth and that we are capable of accomplishing great things even when it seems like we can't.

Reader's Guidance:

Jack gets into a fist fight with another boy. That's about as violent as it gets. I didn't find anything concerning.

Similar Books:

Liesl Shurtliff's newest book Grump: A (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs comes out next month! I'm pretty sure it's going to be another winner. Pre-order it here.

Next Book: 

When I was at the library to pick up Jack, I happened to turn Because of Winn Dixie or The Tale of Desperaux. It's been a while since I've read one of her books, and there are some I haven't had the chance to read yet. That means that next up is her book Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. From what I can gather so far, it's about a girl, who is a natural born cynic, and a very extraordinary squirrel, who also happened to get sucked up by a vacuum... Don't worry! He lives!
around, and on the opposite shelf I spotted one of my favorite children's authors, Kate DiCamillo. You may know her as the writer of

Pick up a copy and read along! See you  next time!

Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood

It's official. Liesl Shurtliff has made it onto my list of favorite others. If you haven't read one of her books yet, please do. In fact, she has a new one coming out next month. You can start there if you want. I recommend you start with Rump though.

Is it silly of me that I was actually getting a little anxious when I started to read Red? Rump was so good, and I wanted Red to be equally good, so I was afraid that my high expectations were setting things up for failure. Eventually I got over that I realized that Red is truly a wonderful book that is indeed equal to Rump. Thanks, Liesl Shurtliff, for crafting such wonderful stories!

On to the facts!

Title: Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood

Rating: 5/5

Author: Liesl Shurtliff

Pages: 247

Genre: Children's/Fantasy/Fairy Tale

Synopsis:

After the events of Rump, things are pretty quiet on The Mountain. Most people have gone, but Red is more than content to stay where she is with her family. When her granny gets sick and may be dying, Red is willing to do anything to save her, even if it means meddling with the thing she fears most--magic.

My Reaction:

Clearly you already saw some of my reaction up above, but let me stress why this story is so great.

Firstly, I didn't expect this story to be touching in anyway. But let me tell you, by the time I was down to the last handful of pages, I had a tear in my eye, maybe even two. It may not affect everyone the same way it did me, but aside from adventure and magic and all of that good stuff, at the heart of this story is really a discussion of death. I feel like this was such a great avenue to bring up the topic in a way that a child could relate too without being freaked out, but also it was something I could relate to and reflect on.

One of my favorite lines of the book was, "Life is like a story. It doesn't mean anything if it doesn't end." It was one of things that made you want to appreciate life and the time we are given, not just our own lives, but to value the lives of those we care most about.

Aside from that and other themes such as the fact that it's okay to make mistakes, Shurtliff once again has created great, memorable characters. One of the key characters is Goldie (as in Goldilocks and the Three Bears). The thing I loved about her characer is that I found he just as annoying as Red did, but then also came to love her. She made me smile and laugh, and she was a great addition to the story. 

Like Rump, Shurtliff has taken characters we are familiar with and made them completely their own. I wasn't expecting some of the choices she made, which made the adventure all the more excited. This book is another winner!

Reader's Guidance:

If you're comfortable with Disney's animated movies, you'll be comfortable with this. 

Similar Books:

Aside from Liesl Shurtliff's other books, if you fancy Red you'll may also fancy books by Gail Carson Levine, Shannon Hale, Cameron Dokey, or a few by Robin McKinley. All of these authors have either retold fairy tales or have written books that have the fairy tale feel.

Next Book:

I went to the library today and came out with not one but three books. I almost grabbed more, but I restrained myself. I'm going to start with the first on the stack which is none other than Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff. I can't help it. I just loved the last two! Please pick up a copy and read along!

A Wrinkle in Time

Rating: 5/5

Author: Madeleine L'Engle

Pages: 211

Genre: Children's/Young Adult/Science Fiction

Synopsis:

It's been a long time since Meg Murray has seen or heard from her father--long enough for people to start spreading rumors. Meg knows that he's off doing something incredibly important, but she doesn't know what. It's getting to the point where people are telling her to move on, but she can't while there's still hope that her father will one day return. 

One day, Meg is introduced by her incredibly intelligent younger brother to three mysterious figures who not only seem to know what her father was working on before he disappeared, but they also know where to find him. And he's in incredible danger! Meg, Charles Wallace, and there newfound friend Calvin are whisked away on incredible adventure to different worlds where they learn about the war of light against the darkness. Only together can they save Meg's father, but can they resist the powers of darkness and save her father before it's too late?

Reaction:

This is my fourth time reading this book, and I must say, that I don't think I've ever enjoyed it so much as I did in this last reading. I loved it! The only slightly negative thing I could think of is that Meg is sometimes a little whiny, but given the circumstances and her age, I think it's justified. Not only that, but the fact that she has flaws is actually pointed out by the characters and is used to make a good point--we can do great things despite our flaws, and there are times where what we consider flaws can actually become a strength. So it worked in this case, and wasn't too the point where I wanted to tell her to shut up. That sort of thing happens to readers on occasion when they encounter certain characters.

But I digress.

Not only does this book stir the mind and imagination and has some great adventure and conflict, there were themes in the book that just spoke to me this time around. That classic fight of good versus evil, the idea that our world isn't perfect but having our own individuality is a blessing, or the idea that we can be a force for good no matter our circumstance. There are also some religious references in the book, and for me, being a religious person myself, I enjoyed having those in there.  They talk about how Jesus is taking part in the battle against the darkness, there's reference to guardian angels, and Meg's father quotes from the bible to bring her some encouragement. I saw L'Engle's style of writing compared to that of C. S. Lewis who is also known for Christian themes in his writing.

It's a great read that kids everywhere will love to read under their desks instead of listening to their fifth grade teachers, just like I did (Just kidding, teach your children to pay attention in class!).

Fun Fact:

This book is a Newbery Medal winner, but it is also on the American Library Association's list of  Frequently Challenged Books, meaning it is a book "that is sought to be removed or otherwise restricted from public access, typically from a library or a school curriculum" (Thanks, Wikipedia!). Did you know there was a such a list? I learned about it in my Young Adult Fiction class in college. We were given an assignment that involved reading one of the books on the list. I chose this one, and that's how I got one of my four readings in. It sounds like it's been challenged for references to witches and crystal balls, religious content, and listing Jesus alongside well known artists, philosophers, scientists, and other religious leaders as people fighting against the darkness. I wasn't bothered by any of those things at all, and I should mention that those references to witches and crystal balls aren't actually references to magic or witchcraft, not really. One of the characters even says essentially, "You know they're not witches." Anyway, no dark magic going on. Take a read for yourself and see if you would put it on the challenged list!

Reader Guidance:

I've already mentioned the Christian themes, so if that's something that bothers you, this may not be the book for you. The only other thing I can think of that might be troubling is a glimpse at a boy who didn't stay synchronized with this particular world's rhythm (watch the trailer for the new movie and you should get an idea of what I'm talking about). He appears to be in extreme pain as he is forced to synchronize. 

Similar Books:

Well, this is the first of five books, but as I recall, they also work pretty well as stand alone books. But, besides the other books in the series, another great series is The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. That series is more on the fantasy side than the science fiction side, but still a great one if you enjoyed A Wrinkle in Time.

Next Book:

Next up is the next book in the series of course, which is A Wind in the Door. The only thing I remember about this next one is that it deals with saving Charles Wallace. Let's jump in! Also, you should know, I finally got a copy of Red: The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood which I've been wanting to read ever since I finished Rump. So, just keep in mind that that book will be coming up on our list shortly!

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

Before I jump into my review of L. Frank Baum's book, I just wanted to say thanks for the response to last week's post! I got some feedback on the blog and on Facebook, and mostly I'm really pleased that multiple people agreed with me on Stardust. You guys had some good ones too! I'll admit, I didn't even know one of them was a book (but now that you've said the movie is way better perhaps I won't bother with the book...)! Here are some of the titles that you guys said had a better movie rendition:

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
The Prestige by Christopher Priest
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

I can concur that those are all good movies. I've only read one of those books and few pages of a couple of the other ones. The Prestige is the one I didn't know was based off of a book. So, feel free to take a read and watch the movies and let us know what one you think is better. Also, if there are any other movies you think were better than their book counterparts, please share! I feel like there may need to be a "Times the Movie was Better than the Book Part 2" post! I've already thought of another movie I enjoyed much more than the book.

But, for now, let's put that on the shelf and talk about this great story about good ol' Santa Claus (which, as you may recall, was also turned into an animated holiday special).

Title: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

Rating: 4/5
Author: L. Frank Baum
Pages: 166
Genre: Children's Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis:

Do you really need a synopsis? The title seems pretty self explanatory. Basically, this is a story of how Santa Claus became Santa Claus. There are other such stories, but I don't know if any others having Santa being adopted by a wood nymph when he was a baby. Perhaps I ought to just skip to my reaction.

My Reaction:

I actually found this to be quite an enjoyable story. I've never had the chance to read Baum's books about Oz, but after reading this story, I imagine they must be an enjoyable read also. I liked his style of writing for one thing.

As mentioned above, this story does include creatures like wood nymphs and fairies, and other immortal beings, but it also includes creatures of Baum's own design. So there are definitely elements to this version of the Santa Claus story that are quite different and a bit in the realm of fantasy. If you're thinking, "Blech! I can't stand fantasy books!" you should still give it a go if you're interested. It's not what I would call heavy fantasy but works well as children's fantasy.

The thing I liked most about this book is the love that Santa Claus has for the children of the world. He is filled with so much joy and happiness because he spends so much time thinking of the welfare of others. The way that Baum presents it, it warmed my heart and made me want to do something nice for someone else.

"In all this world there is nothing so beautiful as a happy child," says good old Santa Claus; and if he had his way the children would all be beautiful, for all would be happy.

Doesn't that just kind of make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

There are also elements of good triumphing over evil and this idea of the power of happily doing good for others. Santa Claus is described as conquering the hearts of all "through very goodness." There were just parts of this story that rang true to me, and then there were just the fun, imaginative portions of it that made it such a good story for readers of all ages (Amazon says this book is for ages 2-99).

This was a winner in my book, so if you need another book for the Christmas season, you may consider adding this one to your collection.

Reader Guidance:

Nothing to fear as far as I'm concerned.

Similar Books:

You know, I haven't read many holiday related books, so I can't really think of something. The only well know Christmastime book I've read is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Go read that one. It's small :)

Next Book:

I daresay this has been the last book review of 2017. At this point, I haven't picked the next book. Feel free to give me any suggestions! I'll be sure to write a quick post next week to let you know what the next book will be! If I can get my hands on another Liesl Shurtliff book, it may just be one of those!

Until next time, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

First and foremost, I have to give a shout out to one of the biggest supporters of my reading habits. That’s you, Mom. She is the sweetest, and she sent me Rump on my kindle just for the heck of it, because she thought I would like it! What made that so fateful was the fact that someone had told me about this book months ago, and I had added it to my “To Read” shelf on Good Reads which my Mom knew nothing about. Thanks to my mom, I had the opportunity to read a truly wonderful story. Thanks, Mom. You always have supported my love of reading!

Now let’s talk about Rumpelstiltskin!

Title: Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

Rating: 5/5

Author: LieslShurtliff

Pages: 274

Genre: Children’s fiction/Fantasy/Fairy Tale

 Synopsis:

Most of us are familiar with the story of Rumpelstiltskin—little guy, spins straw into gold, likes babies—but we only ever hear about the story from the miller’s daughter’s perspective. Have any of you stopped to wonder just where Rumpelstiltskin came from, why he wanted to help the miller’s daughter, or why he wanted her unborn child in the first place?

Well, look no further! All of the answers to those questions and more are contained in Liesl Shurtliff’s book. It turns out that Rump (as most people know him) is just an average guy. Almost…

All he wants is to have enough food for him and his gran and for those pesky bullies at the mine to give him a break. But more than all of that, he longs to discover the secret of his name and fulfill his destiny, whatever that is. Names have power, so why would his mother have given him one like Rump?

The answer to all his problems comes one night as he discovers his magical ability to spin straw into gold! But as we know from another version of Rumpelstiltskin (Once Upon a Time), all magic comes with a price. Instead of solving all of his problems, the number of problems increases until he’s buried so deep that no amount of gold will ever fix it.

My Reaction:

May I point out that another book has earned a 5/5 in my eyes? It’s not an easy thing to do, and I always hesitate a little because I don’t want to be throwing out 5’s willy nilly, but this was a truly great story that I’ll definitely read again at some future point.

One of the things that made me want to read this book is the pure fact that it’s a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. I’ve never heard of someone doing a retelling of that story, and I was intrigued. What could Liesl Shurtliff have come up with?

It started out good and only got better from there. The story has characters or references to other stories we may know, but it is so completely its own thing. I am amazed that Shurtliff was able to take a short, to the point fairy tale and fill it out to create a whole book from Rump’s perspective. It was quite clever, and had some powerful messages at the end (not just the message to not be a dummy and promise your unborn child…)

This book has heart, humor, and adventure. As mentioned above, it has good lessons about overcoming trials, that being mean is a choice that we don’t have to choose, and what it really means to find your destiny. This is one of those books that is great for both young and old, especially lovers of fairy tales. If you’re one of those parents that likes to read books with your kids, this one is a sure bet!

Reader Guidance:

I’d say this book is safe for all audiences. It does have some bullying—they call Rump “Butt” or once threw poop in his face, etc. It also deals briefly with the death of loved ones. Food is hard to come by in Rump’s village, so there is also talk of being extremely hungry. Overall, the way it’s presented is suitable for readers of all ages.

Similar Books:

Liesl Shurtliff has two other books that seem to be similar in nature:

Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood

Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk

Next Book:

Being December and getting very close to Christmas, I thought the next book should be something Christmas themed. You may have never heard of my next choice, but here’s what gave me the idea.

Probably sparked by our watching of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, my husband asked me about the company that made all those well known, stop motion Christmas specials, and then proceeded to look up youtube videos on Rankin/Bass. One video that came up was someone’s list of what they considered to be some of the weirdest or worst Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. (I don’t know how Cricket on the Hearth wasn’t on his list except for maybe the fact that it’s traditional animation and not stop motion. Just saying.) One of the ones he mentioned was a story based off of an L. Frank Baum book (for those of you who don’t know, that is the author of The Wonderful Wizard of O). The book is called The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, and you better believe I’m going to read it! According to the cover, it's a Christmas classic! We'll shall see!

I actually have seen the stop motion version of this story, and I’m curious to see how it compares to the book. My favorite part of it is the scene a song the children sing after Santa has made his first toy. I’m sure my mom didn’t love it quite so much because for days after watching the show I inevitably go around singing, “I want to wake up to a big surprise! A wooden cat with yellow-green eyes!” Now that I’ve just watched this video, it’s my poor husband who gets to suffer with my random singing this year! Ha ha!

Check out the scene below! And get your own copy of the book to read along with me!

Summerlost

Rating: 4/5

I absolutely love this cover!

Author: Ally Condie

Pages: 249

Genre: Children’s Fiction

May I point out that this book earned higher than a 3.5? See, I can be more generous when I want to be!

Synopsis:

It’s been a year since the tragic accident that killed Cedar’s father and brother. Now with just her mother and other brother, Miles, they are doing their best to pick up the pieces and cope with their loss. They are spending the summer in their mother’s hometown, fixing up a small home they intend use as a summer getaway while renting it out to college kids during the rest of the year. It is here that Cedar first sees Leo, riding his bike past their home wearing what appears to be some medieval costume.

Intrigued, and more than willing to take her mind off things, Cedar decides to follow him not knowing how it will dramatically affect the rest of her summer.

My Reaction:

This was a very sweet book and one that I feel is great for addressing some of the harder issues that some children have to face, like death. It addresses bullying to some degree, children with special needs, and there’s even a moment where an assumption is made based on someone’s racial background that hurts a character’s feelings. I really appreciated the way that Ally Condie brought these issues into her story, but at the same time, none of the instances were preachy, in-your-face, you’re-a-terrible-human-being sort of way. And the whole story isn’t based on those issues necessarily. It’s more about dealing with loss.

Cedar’s brother who died had special needs, so part of Cedar’s healing process is thinking about how hard it was sometimes and how in the moment she didn’t always want to deal with her brother, but ultimately she loved him very much. And I would say that she had a special bond with her brother because she had learned how to understand him where others couldn’t because of his situation.

Overall, I think this book is fantastic, and I have tender feelings towards it. It illustrates how mourning isn’t a onetime event. Sometimes, even years and years later, we can look back at certain moments in our lives and still feel a portion of that grief. However, we learn through the help of multiple characters that with the pain there also come love and joy in the remembrance of good memories. Sometimes life is just hard, and it can take time to get through those tough stages of our lives.

I think this book could be a good tool to help children become aware or introduced to difficult topics as well as show support to them if they’ve had to deal with similar things. Plus there are great themes of friendship and going for your dreams and the importance of family. I would recommend this book and not just to children.

In my notes to myself as I read this book, I wrote, "A sweet book with heart." It's worth a read. Plus, I forgot to mention, a lot of the plot is surrounded by this town's annual Shakespeare festival which just appeals to my English nerd.

Reader Guidance:

Just be aware that a huge topic of this book is death and coping with the death of a family member at a young age. As mentioned above, there’s a few instances of bullying—more specifically, there’s a scene in a lunchroom where kids are throwing little things or food at a special needs student; there’s a group of kids who like to pick on Leo by shouting at him as they ride by on bike or knock his hat off; and one of the bullies that picks on Leo later tattles on him and Cedar, getting them into trouble.

Similar Books:

A few different books crossed my mind as I read Summerlost, each of them for different reasons.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall -- This came to mind because it's another summer tale about family, friendship, and a little bit of loss (although it's not as heavily focused on the loss bit in comparison with Summerlost, if I remember correctly). There are actually a few books in The Penderwicks series.

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie C. Tolan -- It's been a while since I've read this one. This one is a little more on the comedic side in that the Applewhites are quite an eccentric group of characters. They are a very creative, artistic family that run a sort of home school. I thought of it mostly because the whole family ends up trying to put on their own production of The Sound of Music. This is almost more a self-discovery book as on of the Applewhite children struggles to see how she fits into her family while at the same time dealing with a new home school student named Jake, who up until this point has been on the fast track to becoming a juevenile delinquent.

Up from Jericho Tel by E. L. Konigsburg -- I thought of this book because of the similarities in dealing with the history and death of a famous actress. This book has a bit of a supernatural element to it in that the two kids who are our main characters come face to face with the spirit of a dead actress. It's not in a creepy, haunted sort of way. More like it's just like they came to a person house for a spot of tea and some biscuits!  

Next Book:

The next book up was recommended to me by one of my neighbors who I went on a walk with one 

day some weeks back. This is the first of two books, and it looks like it fits into the realm of dystopian novels. Let's jump right in with Starters by Lissa Price!

The Sandman and the War of Dreams

Okay guys, I have made a huge and somewhat devastating discovery. I was horribly misled. All this time I’ve been thinking I just needed to read four books to discover how the evil Pitch is defeated and how The Guardians books compare to the movie.

Alas! ‘Tis not so!

As I was getting closer and closer to the final pages of the book, I was starting to get worried. There were so few pages left and there was no clear, full resolution in sight. What was happening! And then, to top it all off, I get some cryptic message at the end of the book placed there specifically to tease me, telling me all about the magnificent climax that is clearly out of my reach—AND THEY DON’T EVEN TELL ME THE NAME OF THE CLIMATIC BOOK! I mean really. The audacity!!!!

Most likely, the final book was not completed and therefore didn’t have a name. After some expert Google searching, I’ve discovered that the final book is called Jack Frost: The End Becomes the Beginning. The saddest part of this whole ordeal is that the final book doesn’t come out until October 2018!

*exaggerated sigh*

So, I guess that means a whole year of waiting before I can finish my final remarks on this book series.

*even bigger exaggerated sigh*

Well, this isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened or the first time I’ve been forced to wait for a long time to find out the next portion of a story (Here’s looking at you BBC and the creators of Kingdom Hearts III. Why do you make me wait so long? I’ll get over it. And yes I realize those aren’t books, but they’re just different storytelling techniques. It counts!).

No more use in whining. Let’s get on with talking about the fourth (but certainly not last) book of The Guardians

The Sandman and the War of Dreams

Sequel to: Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth’s Core, and Toothiana: Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies

Rating: 3.5/5

Author: William Joyce

Pages: 222

Genre: Children’s Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis:

 

When we last saw the guardians, things weren’t quite so hunky dory. Another faceoff against Pitch proved less than satisfactory as Pitch along with their beloved Katherine were mysteriously swept away by none other than Mother Nature!

Now the guardians are in a race to find Katherine before Pitch or Mother Nature does something dreadful and they lose her forever! At the same time, they have no idea where to look or what to expect. It will take another guardian to help them understand more of Pitch’s past and to help them rescue Katherine. Enter Sanderson Mansnoozie, or as you and I know him, the sandman!

But will his added power be enough to defeat Pitch once and for all, or will they once again be thwarted?

My Reaction:

Besides my reaction of utter betrayal as so obviously stated above, William Joyce continues to craft a brilliant, original, adventurous tale. In his defense, I'm pretty sure he never said anywhere that book four was the last book. Just from what I’d seen and heard, I was under the impression that it was the last book. So really the only person I have to blame is myself. Moving on.

I really enjoy that we keep getting more and more little insights to Pitch’s character. I am really curious to see how his part of the story will eventually wrap up. At the end of the last book, Katherine showed a bit of mercy towards this dark character as she saw him not just how he was at the moment, but also as the good man he had once been. This maybe was a bad move as she ended up in a not very nice predicament. However, I’m wondering if this will be one of those cases where a little bit of mercy or helping someone see the better version of themselves will be enough to make the bad guy see the error of his ways. There could still be a shred of good in him…possibly…even though he was consumed by darkness and nightmares and such…

Or, you know, he could always have a Darth Vader moment of clarity where he tosses The Emperor into a giant pit and redeems himself with his few remaining breaths (all metaphorically of course since this isn’t in fact Star Wars).

Or maybe he just stays evil and is simply defeated after one epic, final battle.

I’ll let you know in October 2018.

The other character who is possibly my favorite and who I really want to see how his character continues to develop is Nightlight. Because of things that happen in the story that I will not reveal, we’re pretty much told that Nightlight cannot remain the same.

Overall, this book remains true to the themes of the series. It keeps up the same pace and action, and North is finally starting to seem more like Santa Claus. I’m satisfied.

P.S. I’m super stoked that come the next book we finally get to meet Jack Frost. He was my favorite in the movie, and I’ve been hoping this whole time that he would show up!

Reader Guidance:

The biggest thing of concern in this book is a moment when we learn more about Pitch back in the days before he became the Nightmare King, and in his anger and sorrow he beheads a group of dream pirates one by one with his sword. This is described in simple terms that aren’t super graphic—“...he drew his sword and cut the captain’s head from its body.”

Similar Books:

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo by Orbert Skye

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Next Book:

After my last post about fairy tales (specifically Beauty and the Beast), I received a surprise package on my doorstep. I was confused at first because I hadn't ordered anything. Suddenly I knew it could only have come from one source--my mom. Being the sweet and supportive mother that she is, she send me a copy of Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly, which is basically a story within the Beauty and the Beast story. It's a fairly new book, having been published in January of this year. So, this next book reading is dedicated to my lovely mother. Join me on this exciting adventure!