Nine by Rachelle Dekker*

 I read this book in two days.  The plot is fast-paced and riveting.

Zoe keeps to herself.  She doesn't trust anyone.  Then a confused teenager enters the diner where Zoe waitresses.  She is compelled to help her even if it means risking her life.  As they flee the government, Zoe is forced to confront her past and expose the lies she has been believing.  

This book is labeled "Christian".  God, however, is not mentioned as the answer or even in a positive light (Zoe grew up in a cult).  A Christian believer can pick up overtones of God's redemption, the power of love and a transformed life in Christ (new creation).  

*Highly recommend for readers who like suspense and a plot-driven book.

Warnings: lots of violence/killing/humans being tortured, cult influences, one time the characters drink whiskey & beer, Seely's wife has an affair with a pastor and leaves him because the affair was "the calling of God" and abandons their daugther (the affair is only mentioned-no details included)

-Borrowed from the library.

This book is loosely connected to the book Rachelle Dekker wrote with her dad, Ted Dekker The Girl Behind the Red Rope.

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

 After the deaths of her parents, well-educated but jobless Flora Poste writes letters to various relatives, asking for a place to reside.  Cold Comfort Farm in Sussex holds the most intrigue.  Upon arrival, Flora ascertains that the myriad of relatives working and living there are under control of Aunt Ada Doom, who throws herself into mad fits if anyone disobeys her or leaves the farm.  Relative by relative Flora latches onto their dreams and tenaciously offers them the opportunities to fulfill them.  Soon they are experiencing happiness and hope for the first time in their lives.  Can Flora even transform the dreaded Aunt Ada Doom?

An entertaining, fun book!  First published in 1932, Ms. Gibbons wroteit as a parody of regional and rural fiction that was popular at that time (like Mary Webb and D.H. Lawrence).  

Warnings/points to consider: Amos is a fire & brimstone preacher and his occupation is not highly regarded.  Mr. Mybug is into sex and talks about it excessively, making innuendos about it as he looks at nature.  Details are not graphic.  Homosexuals and lesbians are mentioned (just once).  Seth has relations (no details included) with the house maid.  She has four children from him.  One family member calls her a slut.

To be honest, I was not expecting to encounter any of the items listed under "warnings" since it was published in the 1930s.  Nothing is new under the sun.  

A movie has been made based on the book.  I am looking forward to watching it.

Crabby books by Jonathan Fenske*

 1. Hello, Crabby!

Plankton tries to almost no avail to hoist Crabby out of his crabbiness.  

2. Let's Play, Crabby!  

Persistent Plankton suggests numerous games for Crabby to play.  Crabby's wit outsmarts Plankton each time.

These books are perfect for beginnning readers (or reluctant) to build stamina and fluency.  The adult could read one creature's dialogue while the reader could read the other creature's dialogue.  If your child likes Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems, these series would be a perfect match.

These books will definitely send a reader on the path to find delight in reading.

Each book has step-by-step instructions how to draw one of the characters and also questions to discuss about the book.

*Highly recommend (but see below).

Points to consider: crabbiness, sarcasm, Crabby isn't the nicest friends and is what I call "difficult/mean". 

-Borrowed from a friend.

How I Became a Spy by Deborah Hopkinson*

 A Mystery of World War II

When Bertie finds a woman lying in an alley, he lays his coat over her and dashes off for help.  He returns with police and members of the civil defense command post,  and she is gone!  This encounter plus a run-in (literally) with an American girl commences friendships and a study of ciphers.  Bertie also learns to forgive himself and courageously step forward with life.  

Each chapter has a quote from Sherlock Holmes or from SOE (Special Operations Executive).  An interesting read about how ordinary citizens became spies to thwart the Nazi reign.  Ms. Hopkinson includes actual historical figures.  The fictional characters are believable and likable.  

*Highly recommend for those who love historical fiction and reading about World War II.

-Borrowed from the library.

Independence Cake by Deborah Hopkinson illustrated by Giselle Potter

 Amelia Simmons was the first American to write an American cookbook, American Cookery published in 1796,  that utilized ingredients found in America.  She identified herself as "an American orphan".  Nothing else is known about her.

Ms. Hopkinson imagines what her life may have been like and what prompted her to write the cookbook.

-Borrowed from the library.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

 Award winner-Michael L. Printz Award 2007

Three plots-1. Jin Wang, the only Chinese-American student at his school who desparately wants to fit in

                   2.  The Monkey King-an old Chinese fable

                   3.  Danny, dreads his cousin Chin-Kee's visit each year.  After each visit, Danny has to transfer

                        schools because he is humilated by Chin-Kee's behavoir.

Mr. Yang deftly ties these three plots together.  A book about idenity and accepting who you were created to be.  It was interesting how the author included Psalm 139 in the storyline and a picture of Christ's birth.  Tze-Yo-Tzuh was depicted as the Christian God (but only the references I mention overlap with the Christian faith).  

Warning/points to discuss: a game he would play with his only friend when in elementary would require him to wear a bra on his head, swearing, guys staring at girls' breasts, by accident Jin Wang said "rake the breast", "American bosom", bullies, prejudice

-Borrowed from the library.

Really Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

 Truly is savoring the last few days with her extended family from Texas as they gather for a reunion at Pumpkin Falls, NH.  Then her cousin Mackenzie spies a brochure for mermaid camp at Cape Cod and somehow convinces her parents and Truly's parents to allow them to attend.  Even though she will have an extra week with her cousin, who is also her best friend, Truly dreads mermaid camp.  Despite her initial repulsion of the camp, she adjusts and learns new aquatic skills.  She also discovers when they attend an author book signing at the Cape that her relative who founded the town, Pumpkin Falls, may have been a pirate who hid a treasure at a nearby lake.  When the girls return to Pumpkin Falls, Truly enlists the Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes to search for the treasure.  

While Truly was at mermaid camp, I was not drawn to read this book.  Once she returns to Pumpkin Falls, however, I felt like the plot was more appealing and more exciting.  The mystery of who stole the 4K pumpkin trophy was anticlimatic.  I did not like this one as much as the other two books in the series.

I love the setting of Pumpkin Falls, the family bookstore, Truly's family, Truly's Aunt True. It is refreshing to have a realistic novel that promotes marriage (quite a few marriage proposals occur in this book) in the traditional sense.  

On her website, Ms. Frederick stated that she is working on a fourth Pumpkin Falls Mystery and is not sure if she will write a fifth one.  I  hope she does and keeps the setting exclusively at Pumpkin Falls.

Points to discuss/warnings: Truly is going into eighth grade and wants her love interest to kiss her.  The two of them are not officially dating nor have proclaimed devotion to each other, but try to kiss.  They are not successful.  Truly lies to her parents and sneaks out.  She is caught and punished and is a bit remorseful.

Christmas Remembered by Tomie DePaola*

 About three days a week I would read aloud a chapter from this autobiography centered on Tomie's Christmas memories.  The stories were related chronologically. My boys, ages thirteen  and eleven, enjoyed hearing the recollections.  We marveled at how many interesting experiences Tomie had.  

Tomie warns readers that he shares his memories honestly which requires him to include alcohol.  His family indulged in drinking "spirits" often in these stories.  

Pair with other Tomie dePaola stories: Joy to the World (anthology of three Christmas stories), Tony's Bread (Christmas is mentioned at the end of the book.  During the holiday is when one can purchase panettone bread.). 

*Highly recommend (see warnings).  I actually like this one more than Joy to the World .

-Borrowed from the library.

Warning: A lot of the stories mention alcoholic beverages; smoking mentioned; Tony kisses his girlfriend when he was in junior high

Joy to the World by Tomie DePaola*

 A delightful anthology of three Christmas stories by Tomie  De Paola and Christmas carols.  The stories included  are: The Night of Las Posadas, The Story of the Three Wise Kings, & The Legend of the Poinsettia.  The Chrismas carols are "O Little Town of Bethlehem", "Silent Night", "The First Noel", "Away ina Manger", & "Joy to the World".  The music and words are included for each of the songs.

Read Aloud Revial chose this book for their Family Book Club for the month of December.  

Pair with Christmas Remembered by Tomie DePaola.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

A Long Road on a Short Day by Gary D. Schmidt & Elizabeth Stickney illustrated by Eugene Yelchin*

 Mr. Schmidt wrote this story with his late wife, Anne Schmidt (Elizabeth Stickney is her pen name).  

Mama wants a milk cow to help feed the baby.  Papa and Samuel venture into the blustery winter day to trade objects until they can fulfill her wishes.  Beginning with a Barlow knife and ending with a milk cow (plus something for Samuel), they meet a variety of interesting people who own intriguing objects/creatures.  

Short chapters and full page illustrations make this a perfect book for readers trying to build stamina.   It would also be a great book to read aloud to toddlers/preschoolers who are building listening-stamina.  

Strategies: inferring, asking questions

Recommendation: This book is brimming with secondary characters.  It would be helpful if the parent/teacher would make a list of each secondary character and what they gave for the trade/what they received for the trade.   

*Highly recommend.  A wholesome, sweet book.

Update: I reread this book as my thirteen-year-old read it for RAR family book club. Even he, an advanced reader and a teenager, found it delightful. 

-Borrowed from the library.

On the Horizon by Lois Lowry illustrated by Kenard Pak*

 After watching her father's old home movies from her childhood, Ms. Lowry realized that as she played on the beach in Hawaii,  the ship sailing on the horizon was the Arizona, which was bombed during Pearl Harbor.  This realization prompted her to write this book.

Through verse form, she shares the tragic events of Pearl Harbor and of Hiroshima and then pieces of her life when she lived in Tokyo.  

Simple but powerful.  

Strategies: inferences, asking questions

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Frontier Follies by Ree Drummond**

 I own all PW's cookbooks and have read her novel, The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. When I saw she was publishing a biography, I immediately placed it in my queue from the library.

This book will provide lots of smiles and laughs.  Ree shares stories about herself, various family members and country life story in an engaging voice.  From the first sentence she draws you in, and before you know it, you are settled in a chair, having read several chapters.  I equate this book to Garfield comics.  You glance down at an open Garfield book, telling yourself you will read just one . . .five minutes later you have read several pages and have no intention of stopping!

The book is not chronologically organized and the chapters are self-contained.  She divides the book into topics: marriage, motherhood, family, country life, new territory.  Throughout the book she also includes fun lists, charts and a quiz.  She, of course, inserts a couple of recipes. 

I would use this book as mentor text for writing personal narratives and essays.

**Highly, highly recommend (for those who like autobiographical pieces, narratives/essays and humor).

Heads up: some swearing; an essay is about a bull's private part freezing to the ground but Nan, her mother-in-law,  uses a more vulgar word describe it;  I did not like the essay called Cheatin' Movies.)

-Borrowed from the library.

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley*

 When Flavia de Luce allows the Gypsy woman to park her caravan and horse on her family's massive property, little does she know that an attempted murder, a murder and a digging up a dead body will ensue.  On her trusty bike, Gladys, she tours around the countryside and villages connecting people and their histories to find the murderer.  Of course, she uses her love and knowledge of chemistry to problem solve.  She also discovers a bit more information about her deceased mother that she never knew.

Flavia is clever and persistent.  . . a fun companion!  I do not like her sisters and how they treat her.  Her father is removed and not a leader.

*Highly recommend. (some swearing-d**n; view of God-don't agree with it)

-Borrowed from the library.

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

 I started to read this book aloud to my eleven-year old son, but he did not like the characters' behavior (adulst and children).  As a result, I read it to myself.  I found the story clever and amusing.  Ms. Lowry is a superb writer.

Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby have no interest in their children.  To free them from the burdern of children, they plan a trip from which they would never return.  The children also scheme and find themselves in a pleasant situation.  

I love Ms. Lowry's vocabulary incorporation and her references to quality classic stories. She defines the words and summaries her references.

Warnings/points to discuss: divorce, abandonment, Commander Melanoff wants to pinch Nanny's behind (he thinks his wife is dead, but she isn't.)

Sequel just published-The Willoughbys Return

Fannie in the Kitchen by Deborah Hopkinson illustrated by Nancy Carpenter*

 I loved the clever layout of this book-first course , second course etc.

Readers learn how Fannie Merritt Farmer realized the importance of writing exact instructions for cooking and baking while she was a mother's helper in Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shaw's home.  While she was employed there, she taught young Marcia Shaw cooking and baking techniques.  The story is told from Marcia's point of view.

Interesting illustrations.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Beatrix Potter & the Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig by Deborah Hopkinson illustrated by Charlotte Voake*

 In a letter format, (apt since Beatrix Potter wrote numerous letters) Ms. Hopkinson shares about Beatrix and Bertram's menagerie and the mishaps that befell upon many of them.  Of course, Beatrix loved to draw those animals.  When she decides she wants to draw a guinea pig, she asks her neighbor to borrow her guinea pig named Queen Elizabeth,  promising that she will keep her safe.  The guinea pig dies.  To console her neighbor, she gives her the drawing of her!

Deborah Hopkinson based this book on Beatrix Potter's letters and journals.  The death of the neighbor's guinea pig actually occurred.  Beatrix, however, was twenty-six years old when the misfortune happened.  

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Warning/point to discuss: The guinea pig and other pets die.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-DVD*

 After we listened to the audio version of Huckleberry Finn, we watched the DVD of it starring Elijah Wood.  Although the book had a lot more detail and events, we still enjoyed the movie.  It was interesting to notice which parts they did not include and think/dicuss why they choose to do so.

Rated: PG (some swearing, Pap is drunk, violence)

*Highly recommend.

-We own this DVD.

The Light at Tern Rock by Julia L. Sauer illustrated by Georges Schreiber

*Award winner-Newbery Honor 1952 

Bryon Flagg, the lighthouse keeper on Tern Rock, asks Ronnie and his aunt Martha Morse to take care of it while he is gone for two weeks.  When Mr. Flagg promises that he will return before Christmas, Ronnie and Martha agree to help him.  Martha, who lived fourteen years at Tern Rock, quickly acclimates to the lonesome world and makes it enjoyable for Ronnie.  After two weeks, however, Mr. Flagg does not return.  Soon it is Christmas Eve, and Ronnie and Aunt Martha are still stranded at the lighthouse.  Why would Mr. Flagg break his promise?  How can they enjoy Christmas away from everyone and their traditions?

I read this book aloud to my eleven-year old in one evening!  He thought it was "okay".  I probably enjoyed it more than him.  The writing and description are excellent.  Although the plot was not robust (which is probably what made him not love it), I have been thinking about Ronnie, Aunt Martha, and their situation and how they handled it more than other books I have read lately.

Topics to discuss: disappointment, forgiveness, keeping one's word, lying/deceiving, selfishness

-Borrowed from the library.