The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen*

 Readers witness month-by-month how animals on the farm and their owners adjust to each season. Detailed, sweet illustrations.  

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce*

 Myrtle Hardcastle knows her elderly neighbor has been murdered. Unfortunately, when she shares her clues with the police, they arrest the neighbor's gardener, who happens to be one of Myrtle's tutors and friend. With her governess, Ada Judson, Myrtle investigates to discover the real murderer.

Witty, likable characters. The footnotes were amusing. An English setting in the 1890's makes this book all the more appealing!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library. So far there are three books in the series.

Pony by R.J.Palacio

 Ms. Palacio is a fabulous writer. Many years ago I read and loved her book Wonder .  When authors write well across genres, they are good writers. This book contains intriguing characters, insightful peeks into the West in the 1860's and captivating action. The story is well-crafted. 

Twelve-year-old Silas Bird's life is forever altered when men charge into the Bird family home and take his father away. All of his life his father has protected him, but now Silas ventures out into the open wilderness to find his father. Mittenwool, his best friend who is a ghost, accompanies him. Together they encounter a host of characters and adventures.

Warnings: Silas can see and commuincate with ghosts.  Some of the descriptions of the ghosts are graphic as they portray how they die (blood dripping down from a bullet wound etc.). Spiritualism (ghosts) is a theme of the book. Silas's mother is dead from the start of the book. During the book Silas's father dies. At the end of the book the reader finds out that Jack Beautyman is a homosexual. At first I thought I was reading into it, but Ms. Palacio confirms it in the "author's note".

-Borrowed from the library.

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers written and illustrated by Don Brown*

 Through a graphic novel, Mr. Brown relates the events of 9/11 and its aftermath. He captures the suddeness of the attack and the horror of the first moments and days thereafter. In the author's note he shares about the war, Iraq (weapons of massive destruction)and Abu Zubaydah. He also follows up with individuals' stories he had mentioned throughout the novel.

He wrote and published this book twenty years after 9/11 right before President Biden withdrew the troops from Afghanistan. 

*Highly recommend (for upper elementary-high school).

-Borrowed from the library.

Wonderland by Barbara O'Connor

 --Two girls longing for a best friend, an elderly man grieving over the death of his dog, and a dog determined to escape his race track life--

 Their lives intertwine when Rose's mom hires Mavis's mom to be a housekeeper/cook.  Rose and Mavis become best friends.  Together they are determined to rescue Mr. Duffy and the dog named Henry. The chapters alternate between points of view-Rose, Mavis, and Henry.

Warnings/points to discuss: Mavis's mom switches jobs, boyfriends, and homes often.  Throughout the book she is depicted as a selfish, grumbling woman. She also "checks out" the Tully's gardner and finds him attractive.  Mavis encourages Rose to break her family's rules.  The two have adventures behind the adults' backs. To break the rules, the girls sometimes lie.

Being Clem by Lesa Cline-Ransome*

 A companion to Finding Langston

Out of the three characters from Ms. Cline-Ransome's companion books, I like Clem the best. His humor, sweetness and sincerity endear him to his readers. After Clem's father dies in the Port Chicago explosion, Clem's family struggles to deal with the grief and the ecomonic impact. Being the youngest, Clem feels like he is treated like a baby and strives to prove he is his own person.

Having read the other novels in this trilogy, I enjoyed viewing Langston and Lymon from Clem's eyes as I read this book.  Ms. Cline-Ransome reinforces the importance of considering all the perspectives of a story and how every person has a story and reason for how they respond to life.

Points to discuss: Port Chicago disaster, Bud Billiken parade, treatment of blacks during this time period, bullies, physical abuse, death of parent/grieving, faith-God is mentioned a few times but not central to the characters' beliefs

Read also: Finding Lanston and Leaving Lymon.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Vanderbeekers Make a Wish by Karina Yan Glaser*

 In a few days Papa is turning forty.  The Vanderbeeker siblings have planned the perfect party to celebrate their beloved father. One phone call changes their plans. Then the unexpected arrival of their maternal grandparents causes friction and stress. As the Vanderbeekers navigate relationships, they come to appreciate their family even more.

I read aloud this fifth Vanderbeeker novel to my twelve-year-old. We both enjoyed it! We love this family. While reading the parts about the siblings researching their paternal grandfather, however, I found my interest waning. 

The sixth book in this series will be publish in September, 2022, called The Vanderbeekers on the Road.

*Highly recommend.

-My son owns this book.

Humble Roots by Hannah Anderson*

 How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul

Through analogies from creation, stories from her life and scripture passages, Hannah Anderson leads the reader to analyze different ways pride can manifest itself in one's life. 

If I owned this book, I would have marked it up with comments and highlights.  My brain can be a funnel; knowledge pours into my brain, swirls around rapidly and then leaves!! Ugh!

Mrs. Anderson has written other reflective books, which I may try to find.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via inter-library loan.

Mitten Strings for God by Katrina Kenision

 Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry

Conversational yet thought-provoking essays will resonate with and will refresh mothers.  Overall the book created in me a deep stirring for quiet and for reflection.  When I read an essay, I felt like I was taking a mini vacation! As I read an essay or two a day, I wondered what the author thought of our fast-pace culture now.  The book was first published in 2000, twenty-one years ago before excessive cell phone usage and social media! It was also humorous in the resource section how phone numbers, catalogs and mailing addresses were included, not websites, internet addresses, or blog addresses.

My favorite line from the book is on page 172, "This is the divine work we mothers do; perhaps for a time, it is our vocation-taking care of the invisible."

Consider-some phrases and concepts seemed a bit "new-agey"/self-spiritual. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Leaving Lymon by Lesa Cline-Ransome

 A companion to Finding Langston

This novel reveals the background and life of Langston's nemesis, Lymon.

Lymon seems to be always waiting for his dad . . .while he tried to find a career in music, while he served time in Parchman State Penitentiary (Otherwise known as "Parchman Farm"). Meanwhile, he lives and thrives with his grandparents until Grandpops dies, forcing them to move north with Aunt Vera and her family.  When Ma falls ill, Lymon finds himself navigating the streets of Chicago and a relationship with a mother he has never known.  Will he ever live with his father and know stability?

A heart-wrenching story about a boy who longs for family and stability. This novel reinforced how everyone has a story and reasons why they act the way they do. 

*Highly recommend for older readers (see warnings).

Warnings/points to discuss: parent abandonment, bullies, swearing, physical and verbal abuse, lying/stealing, out of wedlock/children from multiple fathers, death, diabetes, institutions for juvenile deliquents 

-Borrowed from the library

Halfway to Harmony by Barbara O'Connor*

 After his brother Tank dies in the war, Walter finds comfort sitting Tank's pick-up truck and maintaining it.  His depressed mother seems to have forgotten that she still has a son alive.  His father continues to work away from home for weeks at a time.  Then Posey with her three-legged dog move next door. Summer suddenly seems to be a lot brighter.  Together they stumble upon Banjo (who they think is dead at first!) who offers humor and adventure.  

I especially enjoyed Posey's advice on making friends (so true!!). 

*Highly recommend.

Points to discuss: Banjo cusses throughout the book (but no curse words are stated-just that "he cussed"), father abandonment, birth marks, physical deformities, death/grieving, underage driving!! (parents punish and follow through with consequences)

-Borrowed from the library.

Enduring Freedom by Jawad Arash and Trent Reedy*

 This  novel is based on the authors' experiences.  Although the names have been changed, most of the story reflects actual events and relationships. 

The story begins a day before 9/11.  Joe and Baheer live on opposite sides of the world, but their lives are joined when Joe arrives to fight the Taliban (or so he thinks) in Baheer's village. 

I loved learning about the Afghan culture and Isalm.  Depictions of Joe's army training and army life were insightful. As I read this novel, it made me sad to know that what all these two worked for is now being destroyed once more by the Taliban.  This novel was published a couple of months before Biden pulled out U.S. troops, and the Taliban overtook Afghanistan.  

Warning: reference to the f*** word, war violence (graphic), an Afghan teen who is married to an abusive man (she is his 2nd wife) tries to burn herself to death to escape the relationship-graphic details

Topics to discuss: Afghan culture, Isalm, war, abusive husbands, Taliban, divorce/single parents

-Borrowed from the library.