It's Monday 3/25! What Are You Reading?

We woke up to snow this morning! What happened to spring?? This is more snow than we've gotten all winter...and it's March 25. Crazy. We finally had to give up on our plans to go camping next weekend - though it will warm up a bit, the nights will just be too cold still.

I had a bit of a rough week - just experienced a flare-up of my chronic illness as a result of the over-exertion of attending a family funeral last weekend. Fortunately, I didn't have much scheduled so was able to rest when I needed to...and read!

• Last week, I read The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, a Christmas gift from my husband. It was just as good as I'd heard! I was totally engrossed in the story and the characters. It is an emotionally powerful book, both on a personal level and on a global level.
• Now, I am reading Ruins by Orson Scott Card, sequel to Pathfinder. Both books have made the rounds in our family! I worried I wouldn't remember enough of the complex story in Pathfinder, but within a chapter, I was completely absorbed by the story again - Card is an amazing writer.
• I am still listening to Barbara Kingsolver's latest novel on audio, Flight Behavior. I had hoped to finish it by the end of the month, but that might be impossible with 2 weeks of spring break ahead (i.e. no alone-time!). I am really enjoying it.
• My husband, Ken, is reading A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, a recent purchase of mine from the used book store. Neither of us has ever read it before!
• Jamie, 18, is home from college for spring break and among other lazy delights, he is enjoying having some reading time! He is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin, Book 5 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series and loving it! He says he wants to re-read the first 4 books now (and he'll do it, too!).
• Craig, 15, is reading When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka for his freshman lit class, a novel about the Japanese-American internment during World War II. He is actually enjoying this one! I definitely want to read it when he is done, since our neighborhood book group recently read its sort-of prequel, The Buddha is the Attic.

I reviewed two books last week:
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, a highly recommended novel that I loved.
Stolen by Lucy Christopher, a teen/YA novel that explores the relationship between a kidnapper and his captive.

I also wrote a Weekend Cooking post this week.

What are you and your family reading this week?

(What are you reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, with a kid/teen version hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.) 

The snow is beautiful this morning...but it's supposed to be spring!!

Teen/YA Review: Stolen

 Stolen by Lucy Christopher won a Printz Honor award in 2011, and it’s easy to see why. This unique novel about the relationship between a kidnapper and his captive has great emotional depth and explores the gray areas of what is usually considered a straightforward issue.

Gemma, a teen traveling with her parents, is kidnapped from the airport by a young man named Ty. Before he drugs her and takes her away, Gemma is attracted to the handsome man with the blue eyes who buys her a coffee, but when she wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, all she feels is fear.

The novel is told as a letter from Gemma to Ty about her experiences, starting from the moment she saw him in the airport. You would think that her story would be horrifying and terrifying, but it’s far more complicated than that. Ty treats her with kindness, and the two of them are alone, in the definitive “middle of nowhere,” with no one to rely on but each other. She must trust him to some degree, as she is relying on him for her survival in this dangerous and remote – yet beautiful – place.

I won’t say any more about the plot because part of this book’s attraction is its suspense and surprises. The novel is well written and wholly unique. I have read several other teen/YA novels about abductions, and while they were engrossing, this one takes a different approach and explores a far more complicated relationship than just captor and captive. In fact, there are times when you find yourself actually rooting for Ty, even though you know what he did was horribly wrong. I love thought-provoking books that explore the gray areas of life, and this one fits the bill. Stolen is both tender and terrifying, showing that there is almost always more to a situation than meets the eye.

299 pages, Scholastic

 

It's Monday 3/18! What Are You Reading?

We had a long and tiring weekend here, but it was good to spend time with family. My dad and his wife spent the weekend with us, and we all went to my uncle's funeral on Saturday. So, we didn't have a lot of time for reading last week (or blogging), but we did fit in some good books:

• I finished Crispin - The Cross of Lead by Avi. My husband and son were right - it was an excellent middle-grade novel!
• I broke with tradition and read another kid/teen/YA novel instead of alternating with a grown-up book. Last night, I finished Stolen by Lucy Christopher, an award-winning YA novel from the perspective of a teen girl who's been abducted. This one didn't focus on abuse, as have other teen/YA abduction novels I've read, but on the relationship that develops between the kidnapper and his captive. An engrossing and unique story. I haven't decided what to read next yet.
• I am still listening to Barbara Kingsolver's latest novel on audio, Flight Behavior, and enjoying it very much.
• My husband, Ken, just finished Ruins by Orson Scott Card, sequel to Pathfinder. He said it was good, but he liked Pathfinder better. I'm next in line for this one!
• Now, Ken has just started reading A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood which I recently bought at the local used bookstore. Neither of us has read this sci fi dystopian classic before.
• Craig, 15, is reading When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka for his freshman lit class, a novel about the Japanese-American internment during World War II. Ironically, my own neighborhood book group just read the prequel to this book, The Buddha in the Attic, a few months ago, so I am looking forward to reading this one when he is finished with it.
• Jamie, 18, didn't have time for pleasure reading last week because he's been so busy at college, but he is sick today, with a flare-up of his chronic illnesses, so he is planning to finally dive into A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin, Book 5 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series today. A good book is the perfect antidote to a sick day in bed!

I wrote two new reviews last week:  
The House on Mango Street, a classic novel by Sandra Cisneros
Crispin - Cross of Lead by Avi, a middle-grade novel.

I also posted two lists:
Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR List
Top Ten Kids/Teen Books on My Spring TBR List

Finally, I shared some good news, that two of my essays have been published in a new Chicken Soup book.

What are you and your family reading this week?

(What are you reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, with a kid/teen version hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.)

Middle-Grade Review: Crispin: The Cross of Lead

My husband and son have been telling me to read Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi for many years. The book collected dust on my TBR shelf for a very long time, but I finally got around to reading it this week. Guess what? They were right! Crispin is an exciting, fast-paced novel set in a fascinating time period.

It is the Middle Ages in England in 1377. A thirteen-year old boy who has only ever been known as Asta’s son is grieving over the loss of his mother, the only family he’s ever known. He lives in a small, rural village where everyone is very poor and works for the Lord of the local area. Though he thinks he has nothing left to lose, Asta’s son is soon accused of a crime he didn’t commit, with a price put on his head.

Confused, alone, and frightened, he flees his tiny village and goes past its boundaries for the first time in his life. He has nothing but his mother’s cross of lead and a newly revealed name, Crispin. With no sense of anything outside his village, Crispin embarks on an arduous journey through the English countryside with his enemies close behind him, though Crispin has no idea why they are after him. He meets up with a strange, large man named Bear who makes Crispin his personal servant, though Crispin comes to see Bear as more of a benefactor over time, as they flee from Crispin’s pursuers together.

My husband and son were right – this is an exciting, fast-paced adventure story with plenty of heart...oh, and by the way, it won the Newberry Medal. It is filled with surprises (some of which I guessed at, but it is meant for middle-grade readers). Any kids who enjoy historical settings or adventure in any form will come to care for Crispin and root him on, as the pages fly by.

262 pages, Hyperion Books

2013 Reading Challenges:

This book takes place in England for my Where Are You Reading Challenge and counts toward my TBR Pile Reading Challenge.

Top Ten Kids/Teen Books on My Spring TBR List

It's Tuesday and that means it's Top Ten day over at The Broke and the Bookish. Today's topic? Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR List! I actually made two Top Ten lists, one here and one for grown-up books over at Book By Book. I probably won't manage to read all 20 this spring, but it gives me something to shoot for! These were easy lists to make because I have soooo many books waiting to be read on TBR shelves, in piles, and in baskets!

Top Ten Kids/Teen Books on My Spring TBR List:

• The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann, a middle-grade novel by one of my favorite authors. This one has been on my TBR pile for a looong time!
• Ruins by Orson Scott Card, sequel to Pathfinder, our whole family is loving this series!
• The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer, another favorite author at our house.
• Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix, one of several of hers in my TBR pile.
• Flyaway by Lucy Christopher, another long-time resident of the TBR pile.
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, because I loved her Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy.
• Infinity Ring, Book 1 - A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner, a new series I keep meaning to try.
• Lucky for Good by Susan Patron, because I loved the rest of the series.
• The Danger Box by Blue Balliett, another one I've been meaning to read for a while.
• The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone, patiently waiting to be read...

What books are you looking forward to reading this spring?

It's Monday 3/11! What Are You Reading?

Ah, Monday, and life is returning to normal, finally. Our youngest son is back to school, after a month out due to illnesses and surgery, so I am blissfully alone in a quiet house, with no tutoring responsibilities! We had a very nice weekend with gorgeous weather here. I can tell spring is coming because my allergies are going crazy. Between that and Spring Forward, I am dragging this morning!

Lots of great reading this past week:

• I finished The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey and absolutely loved it. It was just as good as everyone said - a well-written, engrossing, magical story. I never wanted it to end!
• I am now reading Crispin - The Cross of Lead by Avi, a favorite middle-grade novel of my husband and son which has been gathering dust on my TBR shelf for years! They were right, as usual - it is excellent.
• I am still listening to Flight Behavior on audio, Barbara Kingsolver's latest novel. I am finding it hard to put aside now. Maybe that will motivate me to take a walk today!
• My husband, Ken, finished The Dark Hour by Robin Burcell, a suspense novel set in Amsterdam. He said it was a very complex story, but I think he liked it.
• Now, Ken is reading Ruins by Orson Scott Card, the teen/YA sequel to Pathfinder, which he, I, and our older son all loved. I am next in line for this one!
• Jamie, 18, has been busy with his second semester at college and hasn't had much reading time. He was home yesterday and told me he has finally given up on a novel that wasn't capturing his attention. He's got a bad cold and will probably need to rest a lot this week, so he's planning to start A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin, Book 5 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. He blew through the first four books during last year's summer vacation, so he is really looking forward to this one!
• Craig, 15, is fully occupied with a month's worth of make-up work in seven different classes!

I wrote two reviews last week: The Invisible Wall, a fascinating memoir by Harry Bernstein and The Dark Side of Nowhere, a teen novel by Neal Schusterman. I also posted my Books Read in February summary - I fit a lot of reading into a short month!

What are you and your family reading this week?

(What are you reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, with a kid/teen version hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.)

Books Read in February

For such a short month, February seemed to go on and on. Our month started out well, with our annual Mardi Gras celebration, but went downhill after that, with our youngest son out of school for an entire month, due to several illnesses and knee surgery. He went in today for the first time, so hopefully the worst is behind us now. Reading-wise, I spent a lot of time at home taking care of him and read quite a bit:

• In Other Worlds by Margaret Atwood, nonfiction essays about science fiction (Canada)
• The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein, memoir (England)
• Wildwood by Colin Meloy, middle-grade fantasy audio book (Oregon)

• The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede, teen/YA novel (North Dakota)
• Redfield Farm: A Novel of the Underground Railroad by Judith Redline Coopey (Pennsylvania)
• The Giant and How He Humbugged America by Jim Murphy, middle-grade nonfiction (New York)

• The Dark Side of Nowhere by Neal Schusterman, middle-grade/teen novel (Oklahoma)
• The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, classic novel (Illinois)

So, I read 8 books last month, which is a lot for me! It was also quite a mix - three nonfiction (one of those a memoir) and five novels. Four of those were adult books, two teen books, and two middle-grade - a nice variety. My favorite book of the month? Oh, it is always so hard to choose. I think Redfield Farm was my favorite - I raved about it so much that most of my extended family is now reading it!

2013 Reading Challenges:  I added 5 new states and 2 countries to my Where Are You Reading 2013 Challenge (see locations above). I read 2 more books for the 2013 TBR Pile Challenge (mostly new books this month). I finally finished the audio book I started months ago for the Audio Book Challenge. And I read 1 book (The House on Mango Street) for the Books I Should Have Read Challenge - hurray!

What were your favorite books read in February?

Teen/YA Review: The Dark Side of Nowhere

We are big fans of Neal Schusterman’s novels here at our house. My husband, son, and I all loved the Everlost trilogy and Unwind and its sequel (which I still need to read). So, I couldn’t wait to read a new reprint of one of his older novels, The Dark Side of Nowhere. While the plot is wholly unique, it has that signature Schusterman fast pace, creativity, and suspense.

This story is full of surprises, so I won’t tell you too much about the plot – part of the fun is seeing it unfold. Fourteen-year old Jason lives in a small town somewhere in the center of the US – basically, the middle of nowhere. Jason has a good life with his parents and friends, but mostly, he is just bored. He feels like nothing exciting ever happens in his pathetic town:

“If God threw a dart at the world and it happened to strike Billington, completely obliterating it, no would notice and no one would care. In fact, I often thought it would be the best thing that could happen to this place. Smack in the middle of the state, Billington is on a highway that couldn’t be straighter if you drew it with a ruler, and whenever I heard people talk about going nowhere fast, I figured they were headed here, although I couldn’t see what the hurry would be. We’ve got your typical fast-food places, an uninspired mall, and way too many satellite dishes – because in a place like this, what else is there to do but watch five hundred channels of TV? If boredom was a living, breathing thing, then its less interesting cousin would be Billington.”

You get the picture. So, Jason’s boring life continues until one of his best friends dies from appendicitis, and his school’s eccentric janitor gives him a strange gift. From there, things just get weirder and weirder, as Jason begins to realize that very strange things are going on in his boring little town – things that may have never happened anywhere else on earth.

It’s a fun, fast adventure with a lot of warmth and heart at its core. Schusterman’s wild imagination is in full swing here. He has also created a likable and unlikely hero in Jason; I tore through this novel in just a few days, hoping things would turn out OK for him in the end. You'll have to read it to find out for yourself!

230 pages, Simon & Schuster

(This book is officially recommended for teens, but I think older middle-grade readers will enjoy it, too.)

 

It's Monday 3/4! What Are You Reading?

Well, I had hoped that life would be back to normal today, with my son back to school after missing 4 of the past 5 weeks, but alas, I am still not alone in the house. He is definitely doing better and was able to work on some make-up work this weekend, so we are thrilled to see him finally perking up. But we tried waking him at 7:00 and again at 8:30 this morning, but he is still too wiped out to get up. One more day at home, then hopefully, he will be able to start some partial days back at school tomorrow.

So, he and I had another long week of being homebound, but the mood here improved dramatically when he started to feel better on the weekend. He did sleep most mornings, so I was able to do a little more writing last week. And we fit in plenty of reading:

• I finished The Dark Side of Nowhere by Neal Schusterman, one of my all-time favorite YA authors. This quick, fast-paced novel was filled with surprises!
• In order to help my son with his make-up work, I next read The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, his assigned book for freshman lit. Despite Craig's complaints about this classic novel, I really enjoyed it! I actually liked the author's unique method of telling a story through short vignettes. And my approach really worked - I was able to help Craig finish his reading log by typing his responses for him and helping him to interpret some of the more ambiguous chapters.
• I am now reading The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, a Christmas gift from my husband. I really wanted to get to this highly acclaimed novel while it was still winter, even though we haven't had any snow this year! I'm enjoying it so far.
• I am still listening to Flight Behavior, Barbara Kingsolver's latest novel, on audio. I felt well enough to take four walks last week, so I was able to squeeze in some audio book time with my iPod!
• My husband is still reading The Dark Hour by Robin Burcell, a thriller set in Amsterdam. He says the plot is very complex, with a lot of characters, but he is enjoying it.
• And, of course, my son finished The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cosneros last week. His older brother had a very busy week in college with two exams, so I don't think he's had any time for pleasure reading.

I wrote two reviews last week: Redfield Farm: A Novel of the Underground Railroad by Judith Redline Coopey, an excellent novel my whole book group enjoyed, and The Far West, conclusion to the teen/YA Frontier Magic trilogy by Patricia C. Wrede. I also linked to some excellent new recipes we tried this week on my Weekend Cooking post.

What are you and your family reading this week?

(What are you reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, with a kid/teen version hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.)