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Showing posts with label Coming of Age Novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coming of Age Novels. Show all posts
Thursday, March 07, 2019
Novel About Dionne Quintuplets Fascinating and Thought-Provoking
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When 17-year-old Emma Trimpany becomes a reluctant assistant to the local midwife, she has no idea she's about to become part of one of the biggest news stories in the history of northern Ontario. She's as shocked as the midwife when their patient—a French woman, who already has five children—gives birth to five more. All girls, the Dionne quintuplets are the first of their kind to survive infancy. As the tiny babies grow into healthy, boisterous toddlers, the world watches with fascination and amazement.
As penniless farmers with a house already bursting full, the Dionnes need plenty of help with both the physical and financial aspects of raising their girls. In exchange for that aid, their home becomes even more overrun with medical personnel, journalists, and other curious onlookers. Shy Emma doesn't relish the attention, but she loves the girls fiercely. To her, they are not a homogenous zoo exhibit; they're children with individual personalities and quirks. When the Canadian government steps in, taking the babies from their parents and making them subjects of the British king, Emma can't bear to leave them. Despite the hoopla surrounding their care, she stays on as their nurse.
With the Great Depression raging, the quintuplets are a bright spot in people's lives. As Quintland takes on an increasingly circus-like atmosphere, with thousands of visitors streaming in to gawk at the captive girls, the children's guardians fighting over their care, and everyone grappling for a piece of the fortune the girls are bringing in, Emma must ask herself how far she's willing to go to protect a brood of children that's not even her own ...
I'd never heard of the Dionne Quintuplets before reading How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny, but now I find their story absolutely fascinating. The Quintland Sisters, a debut novel by Shelley Wood, brings the tale to life through a young, fictional nurse who grows up alongside the famous siblings. Based on Wood's exhaustive research, the book combines fact with fancy to create an intriguing, thought-provoking read that asks penetrating questions about medical ethics, the price of celebrity, the rights of parents, etc. While The Quintland Sisters is an episodic novel, with no real plot, I found it riveting nonetheless. Some may grow bored with the 440-page tome, but I quite enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything, but reading The Quintland Sisters definitely makes me want to look into the real story through books like Family Secrets: The Dionne Quintuplets' Autobiography by Jean-Yves Soucy, We Were Five by James Brough, etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), brief violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Quintland Sisters from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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Review Stops
Tuesday, March 5th: As I turn the pages
Wednesday, March 6th: Bibliotica
Thursday, March 7th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Friday, March 8th: Kritters Ramblings
Monday, March 11th: Iwriteinbooks’s blog
Tuesday, March 12th: Literary Quicksand
Wednesday, March 13th: A Bookish Affair
Thursday, March 14th: BookNAround
Monday, March 18th: Laura’s Reviews
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Wednesday, March 20th: Instagram: @lindsays_books
Thursday, March 21st: Lindsay’s Book Reviews
Saturday, February 03, 2018
Sad, Sweeping Alaska Family Drama a Gripping Tour-de-Force
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Leni Allbright has never really known a normal life. At 13, she lives a transient, poverty-stricken existence with her parents, whose volatile marriage has only gotten more violent. Her father, Ernt, suffers from PTSD thanks to his recent stint in the Vietnam War. Tormented by paranoia and anxiety, he can't hold a job, which only makes him more mercurial. Despite escalating abuse from Ernt, Cora Allbright refuses to leave the husband she loves, even if he's no longer the man she married. Caught in the middle, Leni can only hide herself in books and pray for better days.
When Ernt receives a letter informing him that he's inherited a cabin in Alaska from a dead war buddy, he makes the impulsive decision to move ASAP. Both Leni and Cora are leery, but hopeful the change of scenery will soothe Ernt's troubled soul. When the Allbrights reach Kaneq, a remote town accessible only by boat (except at low tide when it's completely cut off), the women begin to understand just how woefully unprepared they are for homesteading in the middle of nowhere. Despite the help they receive from the ragtag bunch who populate Kaneq, Leni's anxiety continues to grow. As winter comes on with its dark, endless days and brutal, isolating weather, what will happen to Ernt's already erratic moods? Cora wears the evidence of his rage all over her body—how much more can she stand? When the changing whims of the Alaskan wilderness become less dangerous than the perils within her own home, Leni knows only she has the power to save herself and her disintegrating family. Is she strong enough to survive in a place so inhospitable that only the toughest—or craziest—people have the audacity to live there? She's about to find out.
One of my favorite WWII novels is Kristin Hannah's 2015 best-seller The Nightingale. That epic tale swept me away and I've been waiting with bated breath for its author to give a repeat performance as brilliant. Although her newest, The Great Alone (available February 6, 2018), differs from The Nightingale in time, place, and theme, it's just as sweeping, just as engrossing, just as impacting. Atmospheric and haunting, this is a sad but beautiful book about resiliency and redemption. I loved everything about it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, disturbing subject matter, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Great Alone from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press. Thank you!
Thursday, February 01, 2018
Beautiful, Multi-layered Orphan Island Offers Plenty of Food for Thought
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although the kids on the island can't remember their lives away, they know they're better off on their island paradise. After all, their home is a magical place full of beauty, camaraderie, and safety. They're sheltered, always. They can't fall off the cliffs—the wind pushes them right back. They can't be bitten or stung—even the poisonous snakes are docile as lambs. As long as they follow the rules, the island protects and provides.
One of the rules dictates that every year a young child arrives mysteriously in a self-propelled green boat. The oldest islander must then climb into the boat and be steered away, never to be heard from again. No one knows where the newbies come from or where the Elders go. They simply welcome those who come and mourn those who leave. It has always been this way; it will always be this way. After all, everyone knows the rhyme: Nine on an island, orphans all, Any more, the sky might fall.
When a new child arrives at the island begging for her "mama," Jinny—the eldest—begins to question everything she's always been told. Who are she and her friends, really? Why are they on this strange island? As Jinny digs for answers, she sets in motion a shocking chain of events that will change everything.
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder is a gorgeously-written middle grade novel that explores a variety of intriguing themes. Although it's a compelling mystery/adventure with enough action to keep a child's attention, the story's also rich in symbolism and allegory that will please deep-thinking adults. Multi-layered and mysterious, Orphan Island will keep you guessing, especially since its ending remains open to interpretation. If you're looking for a read that will provoke lively conversation at your next book club meeting, give this one a go. I'm not sure I'd consider Orphan Island a favorite of mine, but it's definitely worthy of an A grade. Even months after reading it, I'm still pondering all its possible meanings.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, and of the The Truman Show)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I borrowed a copy of Orphan Island from my daughter's elementary school as part of my volunteer work with the school's reading program.
Monday, April 17, 2017
New Spinelli Novel A Poignant, Thoughtful Tale
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Cammie O'Reilly knows what it's like to have a caretaker, but not a mother. Hers died 12 years ago when Cammie was just a baby. For as long as she can remember, it's been her and her father, who works as a warden at the local prison. Since the O'Reillys live in an apartment above the entrance to the facility, she's always had one of the female inmates—a prison trustee—as a housekeeper and Cammie-keeper. Which is all well and good, but this is a pivotal time for Cammie; she wants a mother of her own to help her through it.
There are plenty of women in the Hancock County Prison from whom to choose. Maybe they're not the most ideal candidates in the world, but Cammie's not all that picky. Boo Boo, a flamboyant shoplifter, would be a fun mother. Eloda, the current Cammie-minder isn't exactly the warm and fuzzy type, but she would do. Cammie just has to do a little scheming to make all her mother-shaped dreams come true.
Of course, procuring a mother isn't that easy. Neither is growing up, as Cammie is finding out the hard way. Between her determined mom-scheming, her friends acting strangely, the discovery of an unlikely new pal, and the arrival of an intriguing inmate, her emotions are running high. It will be a summer full of startling revelations—truths that will change everything for one "Cannonball" Cammie O'Reilly.
I've never read anything by Jerry Spinelli, so when a copy of his newest—The Warden's Daughter—arrived at my kids' school library, I jumped at the chance to read it. The jail setting caught my attention, as did Cammie's endearing plight. While I didn't end up loving the novel, I did find it a thoughtful and poignant book that tells a sad but intriguing story. Overall, I did like the tale, which reminded me a lot of the old Rolling Stones adage "You can't always get what you ... you get what you need."
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Al Capone series [Al Capone Does My Shirts; Al Capone Shines My Shoes; and Al Capone Does My Homework] by Gennifer Choldenko)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs)
To the FTC, with love: I borrowed a copy of The Warden's Daughter from my kids' elementary school library.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Intriguing Coming-of-Age Story Based on Author's Real Life Mixed-Race Experience
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After a traumatic event that leaves her an orphan, 11-year-old Rachel Morse moves from Chicago to Portland, Oregon, to live with her paternal grandmother. Having been raised by her white-skinned Danish mother, not her African-American father, the bi-racial tween experiences culture shock living in the "black" part of her new city. With her light brown skin and blue eyes, no one's quite sure what to make of Rachel. Least of all herself. As she struggles to deal with not just her grief, but also finding her identity—racially, socially, emotionally, economically—she will make some startling discoveries about herself, her family, and what really happened on that rooftop in Chicago.
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, a debut novel by Heidi W. Durrow, is loosely based on a real news story and strongly based on the author's experience as a person of mixed race. Because of the latter, Rachel's voice exudes authenticity, making her an intriguing narrator. Her story is compelling not just because of the mystery that runs through the novel, but also because it's a tender tale about growing up and all the confusion, chaos, and consternation that comes along with that rite of passage. Race and identity are big themes in the PEN/Bellwether Prize-winning book (2008); the points it makes on the subjects are both interesting and very discussion-worthy. Although The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is sad and depressing, overall I found it engrossing. Not amazing, but absorbing enough to keep my attention, meaningful enough to make me think.
(Readalikes: Reviews compare it to The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, which I haven't read.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, December 30, 2016
Sprinkles of Magical Realism Make MG Coming-of-Age Story Unique
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The last place 12-year-old Carol wants to spend her summer vacation is on an isolated sheep ranch in the New Mexico desert. While her friends are lounging by the pool, she'll be sweating to death as she helps care for an elderly stranger with dementia. Yes, Serge is her grandfather, but it's not like she's ever met him before. Unfortunately, there's nothing she can do to change her pathetic situation—her stressed-out parents need Carol's help to clean up and sell the ranch so they can move Grandpa Serge into a care home.
Carol doesn't take most of what Serge says seriously. His mind is going, right? So, why does it sting so much when he admonishes her not to spit on her Mexican heritage? And why do his crazy stories about a healing tree and magic bees strike such a chord with her? Grandpa Serge has no idea what he's talking about. Or does he?
As Carol learns to appreciate the things that matter most, she'll come to some surprising conclusions about herself, her family, and a desolate ranch that's filled with more possibility than she ever could have imagined.
Hour of the Bees, a debut novel by Lindsay Eager, tells a compelling coming-of-age story about roots, relationships, and redemption. Its blend of magical realism and plain ole realism makes it unique. Carol's voice seems authentically twelve, in all of its whiny/whimsical glory. The tale does get preachy and overly sentimental, especially toward the end. It also has a very far-fetched finale that kind of soured the story for me. Overall, though, Hour of the Bees makes for an enjoyable read with some important messages. Be warned, though: the heavy subject matter might be a tad much for more sensitive middle grade readers.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of The Time of the Butterflies by Kimberley Griffiths Little)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scary scenes/scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Hour of the Bees from the generous folks at Candlewick Press. Thank you!
Saturday, November 05, 2016
Whistling Past the Graveyard A Compelling Family Drama with a Side of Southern
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Starla Claudelle has already been on restriction twice since school let out. If her Mamie finds her sneaking out of the house on the Fourth of July, the 9-year-old will surely be grounded for life. Not willing to risk that fate, Starla makes good on the threat she's been taunting her grandmother with for years—she runs away. She can't appeal to her father, who works on an oil rig in the Gulf. He'd side with his mother anyway. That leaves Starla's mom, who left six years ago to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Surely, she's a rich, famous crooner by now, one who will graciously welcome home her long-lost daughter.
Before she gets anywhere close to Nashville, Starla is picked up by Eula, a black maid traveling with a white baby. Little James isn't the only thing Eula's hiding. Pretty soon, all three of them are on the run, hoping to find safety in Tennessee. Along the way, they'll encounter plenty of trouble, redemption, and, maybe, a little of the salvation of which all of them are in need. Marked by adventure, hardship, heartache, and joy, it's a road trip that will forever change Starla's life.
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall is a warm Southern novel set in 1963 that explores the many meanings of family. Starla is a bright spitfire of a girl, a mischievous heroine who's pretty much irresistible. Her spot-on narration, plus an engrossing plot make this novel an enjoyable read. Although the story brings up some hard issues, for the most part Whistling Past the Graveyard is an upbeat, heartwarming tale that will appeal to anyone who enjoys family dramas with a side of Southern.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of Signed, Skye Harper by Carol Lynch Williams and The Help by Kathryn Stockett)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder expletives), violence, and disturbing themes (child abuse, racism, attempted rape, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Whistling Past the Graveyard at Target with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, October 24, 2016
Condie's Middle Grade Debut Tender and Touching
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's been a year since the car accident that killed Cedar Lee's father and younger brother. Still sick with grief, the rest of the family is trying to pick up the pieces. For Cedar's mother that means moving on. Literally. For the rest of the summer, they'll be living in Iron Creek, their mom's childhood hometown in Southern Utah. Cedar doesn't mind spending time there, it's just that summers aren't the same anymore. Life isn't the same. And it's hard to push forward when all she really wants is to go back—back to normal, back to how it was before the accident, back to the same she loved and misses so keenly.
Still, Cedar's interest is piqued when the 12-year-old sees a boy her age in strange, old-fashioned clothing pedal by on a bicycle. Following him leads her into the magical world of the town's Shakespearean festival. Cedar is immediately taken in by its enchanting atmosphere, the colorful theater people, and the enthusiasm of her new friend, Leo Bishop. Soon, she and Leo are embroiled in a profitable—if clandestine—money-making business as well as solving a local mystery. Cedar's also mystified by the small gifts being left for her on her window sill. They're exactly the kinds of things her dead brother collected. Is Ben reaching out to her from beyond the grave? Or is the heaviness in her heart making her brain see things that aren't really there? As Cedar tries to fill the hole in her heart with a new town, a new friend, and new adventures, she must come to terms with what she's lost and what she's found in order to figure out just who she's really meant to be.
Summerlost, Ally Condie's first middle grade novel, tells a gentle, but emotionally-rich story about a young girl's struggle to cope after a great tragedy rips her family in two. It's a heartfelt, atmospheric tale that is both tender and touching. The festival setting lends it an otherworldly magic that makes the novel uniquely spellbinding. With humor, mystery, drama, and a whole lot of heart, Summerlost makes for a compelling read with cross-over appeal. It enchanted me quite thoroughly, thank you very much.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for intense situations and themes (grief, loss, bullying, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, January 04, 2016
Gentle 1963 Children's Novel Expansive, Eye-Opening
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's only when David arrives in Italy, soaking in the vibrant colors and beauty of that land, that he decides he desperately wants to live. After seeing such a sight, he "could no longer think of nothing as he had trained himself to do in the concentration camp" (191). In order to live, however, the guileless David will have to learn some important lessons about trust, friendship, and making his way in the great, wild world with all its charms and dangers.
I Am David, Anne Holm's 1963 novel for young readers, is a quiet, but expansive coming-of-age tale. Like many tales of imprisonment, this gentle story celebrates the beauty of life, even in the midst of great ugliness. David's remarkable journey opens not just his eyes, but those of the reader as well. Although the story starts slowly and ends in a most convenient, contrived manner, it's still a memorable, inspiring tale. Overall, I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie (and it is!), it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, November 05, 2015
Go Set a Watchman: I Didn't Hate It. Surprise!
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"She did not stand alone, but what stood behind her, the most potent moral force in her life, was the love of her father. She never questioned it, never thought about it, never even realized that before she made any decision of importance, the reflex, 'What would Atticus do?' passed through her unconscious; she never realized what made her dig in her feet and stand firm whenever she did was her father; that whatever was decent and of good report in her character was put there by her father; she did not know that she worshiped him ... [she was] complacent in her snug world" (117-18).
When I first heard the announcement about the release of Harper Lee's "new" novel, Go Set a Watchman, I felt ecstatic. More from Maycomb? Yes, please! Then reviews started trickling in. Not-so-great reviews. The flame of my enthusiasm flickered a little. Was Go Set a Watchman going to tarnish my undying love for To Kill a Mockingbird? Would it spoil everything I thought I knew about Atticus Finch & Company? Should I risk reading it or would I be better off just leaving it on the shelf? Since I'm nothing if not daring (actually, I'm nothing like daring), I decided to take the plunge. And, guess what? I didn't hate Go Set a Watchman. I get why some people did, but I didn't. In fact, I liked it.
The novel opens with 26-year-old Jean Louise "Scout" Finch coming home to visit her father in Maycomb. Although little has changed in the decades since she was a child running wild in the streets of the small town, Atticus has somehow become an old man. At 72, he's crippled with rheumatoid arthritis and being looked after by Alexandra, his impossible, always disapproving sister. Of course, seeing her father isn't the only reason Jean Louise is visiting—there's also Henry Clinton, Atticus' right-hand man. And Scout's fianceé, if she would just go ahead and accept his marriage proposal already. Determined to "pursue the stony path of spinsterhood" (15), at least for now, Jean Louise is happy to flirt with her long-suffering beau, philosophize with her aging father, and use her modern, New York-ified ways to scandalize the town she loves so well.
While happily pursuing these aims, Jean Louise stumbles upon a discovery so shocking it shakes her to her very core. With this sucker punch to the gut, her safe little world tilts on its axis, throwing everything she thought she knew about her fair-minded father, his equally equitable colleagues, and her beloved Maycomb into doubt. Is it possible that the people and place she's known all her life have changed so irrevocably in her absence? Or is it Jean Louise? As she grapples with the answers to questions she's never thought to ask, she must face the ultimate question: Where does she truly belong—in prejudiced, provincial Maycomb or in permissive, progressive New York City? It's becoming increasingly obvious that she can't have both.
Like To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman is a coming-of-age story. Even though Scout is already an adult in body, it's her awareness that evolves throughout this novel. The eyes through which she viewed her childhood are opened in ways that are startling and life-changing. Readers who adore To Kill a Mockingbird will likely be just as troubled by the revelations that pummel Scout as she is. Knowing the hard truth, even about fictional people in made-up places, can be horrifying. While I still prefer the idealized version of Maycomb and her residents that appears in TKAM, it's fascinating to compare that with the more complex one Lee offers in Go Set a Watchman. Studied together, the books offer a truly intriguing and enlightening reading experience. Go Set a Watchman isn't the masterpiece that its predecessor is—in fact, it's clunky, confusing, and downright dull in places (although hilarious in others)—but as a companion novel (not a sequel or prequel), it adds illuminating layers to Scout's story. Even if you're a diehard ignorance-is-bliss kind of reader, you don't want to miss this novel. Not only does it bring to life a complicated, contradictory period in history, but it highlights how little things have changed over the years. For a book written in the 1950s, Go Set a Watchman (especially its last few chapters) addresses ideas/themes that are oddly, eerily pertinent to issues we're dealing with today. Beyond that, it's a compelling tale about contradiction, balance, and being humble enough to accept other people's beliefs even when (especially when) they conflict with your own. In my opinion, Go Set a Watchman does exactly what the jacket copy says it does: "It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context, and new meaning to an American classic."
(Readalikes: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild language (no F-bombs), racial epithets, sexual innuendo, and references (not graphic) to sex, rape, etc.
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Go Set a Watchman from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Alcoholism and Abuse in Amish Country Make For a Surprisingly Ho-Hum Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
To the Plain people in his Fold, the Deacon stands as an example of the Amish ideal—he works hard, cares for his flock, and listens closely to the God with whom he has always communed. Only Joshua, the Deacon's 11-year-old son, knows the truth. Only he sees the hungry slurps his father takes from jars of pungent "communion wine," only he witnesses the rage that ensues, only he receives the Deacon's vicious beatings. No one else knows—not his mother, not his four sisters, not any of their Plain neighbors. The family's lives look perfect from the outside. It's not until a scuffle between Joshua and his father turns deadly that the truth begins to leak out.
Unable to stay in Pennsylvania, Joshua makes a run for it. He's heard about a distant California city, Monte Rey, where the sun always shines. Perpetual summer sounds infinitely better than whatever awaits him at home. The naive boy, who's never lived among the "English" before, stumbles into every kind of danger along his decade-long journey to the West. Having learned some excruciating lessons about life and love, an adult Joshua yearns for one thing: home. He longs to return to the Fold, but how can one so tainted go back? Especially when doing so means confronting the abusive father who never wanted him in the first place.
Miriam's life changes forever on the night of the fire. Not only is Joshua, her oldest child, missing—presumed dead—but her strong, stalwart husband is burned so badly he can barely move. So severe are his wounds that Miriam knows the Deacon will never be the same again. It will be up to her to tend to his injuries, care for the children, run the farm, and keep hope alive despite the unbearable strain. Despite the years that pass, Miriam refuses to believe Joshua is dead, even when everyone begs her to let go. Exhausted and worried about her crumbling marriage, that hope is the only thing to which she can cling.
While tension mounts for both Joshua and Miriam, their reunion grows ever closer. But will it be the sweet homecoming of which Joshua dreams? Or will his family Shun him as the sinner he's become?
When I think of the Amish people, sweet, gentle adjectives come to mind. Abusive and alcoholic not being two of them. Since Plain folks are as human as the rest of us, it stands to reason that even the most peaceful of communities has its dark secrets. E.B. Moore, a sculptor and author with Amish roots, would probably know. Loosely based on her grandfather's early life, Moore's second novel, Stones in the Road, addresses some of these issues. Joshua, whose tumultuous relationship with his father makes him instantly sympathetic, is a compelling narrator. His mother's plight makes her equally so. Because of this, the reader can't help but root for their reunion. Still, it's a slow journey, one that gets dull—and downright weird—in some places. Although Joshua and Miriam's various adventures kept me interested enough, I wasn't racing through the pages to see what happened next. The story is ultimately hopeful, but it's also almost overwhelmingly depressing. I did, however, appreciate its important message of making your own peace, even when (especially when?) others cause you unbearable pain. Still, I found Stones in the Road to be only a so-so read for me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Heart's Journey by Kristen McKendry)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Stones in the Road from the generous folks at Penguin Random House. Thank you!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Doll Bones: A Little Bit Creepy, A Lot Unique and Heartwarming
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Zach, Poppy and Alice are long-time friends who've been playing one continuous game of make believe almost since they met. Using action figures and dolls, they've created an elaborate world full of pirates, mermaids, warriors and non-stop adventure. Ruling it all is the Great Queen, represented by a creepy bone-china doll Poppy's mom keeps in a locked cabinet.
The game has always been great fun for the trio of friends, even if it is kind of a baby thing to do. Now that he's 12, Zach's embarrassed by his enthusiasm for the game. He knows he should give it up, but it still makes him angry when his dad throws out all his action figures. Confused and hurt by Zach's sudden refusal to play the game, the girls fear this may be the end of the threesome's close friendship.
Then Poppy announces that she's been having dreams about the ghost of the girl whose crushed bones were used to make the Queen. She says the spirit can't rest until the china doll is laid to rest in her empty grave. Caught up in the game once more, the threesome heads out for one last adventure together. But, as one thing after another goes wrong, the kids begin to question the real purpose behind Poppy's insistence on finishing the quest—are her dreams even real? Or is this a last-ditch effort to get her friends to play the game? Is Poppy even the one in control? Or is it her mom's freaky doll who's really running the show?
It's difficult to categorize Doll Bones, Holly Black's Newbery Honor-winning middle grade novel. To say that it's unique hardly seems sufficient. It's much more than that. Considering its author, I figured the book would be scary. And it is. A little. But while Doll Bones has elements of both a horror novel and an adventure tale, it's more of a coming-of-age story than anything else. The former will be what keeps readers intrigued by the tale, but it's the latter that will make it meaningful. Anyone who's ever tottered on the edge of childhood and felt a little bit frightened by what comes next can relate to this odd, but ultimately touching story.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scary images/scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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Readin'
Beach Thriller by Jamie Day
Listenin'
Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson
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Sweet Spot by Kemper Donovan4 hours ago
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Grab my Button!
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2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction
