Chapter One Again by Keelia Clarkson

 After living in NYC for a decade, Jane feels compelled to return to her teeny Colorado home town, Avila Falls, for her mother's birthday. The town she dreamed of escaping throughout her high school years. . . 

She thought she had her career path figured out in NYC-ghostwriting memoirs for famous actors/actresses/musicians and writing her own novel. Upon returning to Avila Falls,, however, she begins to question the identity she has formed for herself. Meeting her old crush and seeing how her parents and, also her mentor, are aging cause her to ponder anew if the life she has been living is truly fulfilling.

A very predictable novel-Hallmark-like (Jane's friends even equate her weeks at home like a Hallmark movie 😀💖) I would have no issues sharing this novel with a teen. It is a very clean, sweet romance.

This genre is not my favorite, but I did enjoy reading (even though it was very predictable) & immersing myself into Jane's world and the beautiful Colorado setting. Mrs. Clarkson has created likable characters and a setting that you want to visit.

A great, light read with an uplifting tone. 

-Borrowed from the library.

*The author is Sally Clarkson's daughter-in-law. 

Page Two With You , the 2nd book in the series, is forth-coming.

Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares*

 A pair of cardinals love their Norway spruce tree in a small backyard. Red, the male cardinal, and Lulu, the female cardinal, especially love Christmas. The house owners decorate their tree with lights. People gather at the front door to sing a song about the tree.  One day a group of people chop it down and haul it into the city. Red follows the truck because he hears his beloved Lulu singing from inside the tree! This Christmas is one they will never forget!

The illustrations are stunning.

RAR is featuring this book during one of their Christmas School weeks this December.

If the readers have been to NYC, they will have fun identifying sites in NYC.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library. 

Cubs in the Tub by Candace Fleming illustrated by Julie Downing**

 The True Story of the Bronx Zoo's First Woman Zookeeper

Helen Martini yearns to be a mother. She prepares her home for a baby, but she and her husband are not blessed with a little one. Then her husband, Fred who works at the Bronx Zoo, brings home a lion cub whose mother has rejected him. Helen cares for him like a baby until he is strong enough to return to the zoo. Soon Helen finds herself caring for three tiger cubs and many other creatures. Eventually, she remodels an abandoned room into a nursery at the zoo.

The word and illustrations placement are clever. I love this biography -for the interesting story and for the artistic/literary value.

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Blue Bloods Season 1DVD*

 The Reagan family serves NYC in various roles-Police Commissioner, detective, Assistant D.A., and a beat cop. This Catholic family bonds over Sunday night dinners. The grandfather, a former Police Comissioner, adds humor to the conversation. I love how this series celebrates family.

*Highly recommend for adults. Proceed with caution with teens. Not suitable for younger than high school. See warnings.

Warnings: murder/violence,drug use, sometimes cases take the investigators/police in questionable places (usually you can tell when & can fast forward/turn eyes), whenever the Reagan family is relaxing or meeting together, they usually drink some sort of alcohol (not getting drunk)

-Borrowed from the library.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Nick Carraway narrates a story about his time in the East, working as a bondsman in NYC but residing on Long Island at West Egg. His next door neighbor, Jay Gatsby, hosts lavish parties each weekend. Not knowing where he gained his wealth, people create stories about him and his past. As Nick develops a relationship with "the Great Gatsby", he learns about his past (is it accurate??) and his present goal: to regain the affections of Daisy, a girl from his past who is now married. Daisy lives across the water from Gatsby. Daisy is also Nick's cousin.

Mr. Fitzgerald depicts the vacuity of the 1920s well. The desire to gain wealth dominated the decade. Materialism was a driving force.

I especially enjoyed reading this novel's beautiful writing: Fitzgerald's word choice, his ability to incorporate imagery, and his powerful allusions. 

Warning/points to discuss: excessive drinking, adultery, lying/deception, materialism, selfishness, murder, suicide, in Gatsby's younger days he was intimate with a lot of woman (no descriptions are included-just stated)

-I own two copies of the this novel-one for my son, one for me.

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

 This exciting novella was originally published in 1919. 

Roger Mifflin and his wife Helen (once owners of the moving book wagon, Parnassus) now own a second-hand bookshop in Brooklyn, NYC. To give him time away from the shop, Mifflin agrees to hire his friend's daughter, Titania, as his assistant. Aubrey Gilbert, a young man in the advertising business, stops by to convince Mifflin to advertise. Instead, Mifflin lures him into conversation about books and philosophy. Seeing Titania, Aubrey is enamored with her. Then some sinister, suspicious events occur, convincing Aubrey that he needs to protect Titania. In a week's time a dangerous plot is revealed . . . all within a second-hand bookshop!

Bibliophiles will delight in reading this book. Mifflin fills pages with his philosophies (I don't agree with his view on God/Bible and politics) and his book recommendations (I only knew a handful of the titles . . . . .maybe because the titles are so old?? or maybe I am not well-read.). My mind wandered a bit while I read some of Mifflin's monologues. 

I did not like when Aubrey became angry and wanted to hit Titania because she was so beautiful and captivating. Maybe it did not mean what it means today??  The word d**n is included throughout the book (not often).

-Borrowed from the library.

The Christmas Owl by Ellen Kalish & Gideon Sterer illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki

 This is the second picture book I read about the owl that was discovered in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. I liked this account better. It is co-written by the woman, Ellen Kalish, who nursed him back to health and who eventually released him. Photos of him and his release are included in the author's note.

-Borrowed from the library.

Rainbow Shopping by Qing Zhuang

 A young girl shops with her mother on a Saturday morning to buy ingredients to make dinner. It is a celebration because it is the one day of the week that everyone is home -Mom, Dad, Grandma, and the girl narrator. The family recently moved from China to NYC. Throughout the book the girl shares her struggle in adjusting. As they shop, the mom creates metaphors and similes to cleverly engage her daughter and to ease her discomfort in the new city.

-Borrowed from the library.

Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus*

 How I hope Ms. Albus keeps writing middle grade novels! Her characters are well-developed, her plots are compelling, and her writing is superb. . .all without inserting any agendas that is all too common in literature for kids "these days". 

Fish, Dory, and Pike Byrne's father has been called to fight in WW II. He asks Fish, who is seventeen years old, to watch over twelve-year-old Dory and eight-year-old Pike. (Their mother had died.)Pop also vows that the neighborhood of Lower East Side will take care of them. Fish and the neighborhood do take care of the family, but when a new landlord moves into their apartment, he despises the Byrne kids and suspects that they are living there without a parent. Where can they go to escape the orphange?

I loved being immersed in NYC Lower East Side during WW II. Ms. Albus weaves in interesting tidbits. I did not care for Dory (I am tired of fiesty girls in books). She also lied a lot.  Although he was a minor character, I liked Pike the best. Fish was also admirable. 

Ms. Albus talks directly to the reader throughout the novel, which is a new techinque for her. She also mentions a diamond that is hidden in a wardrobe unbeknownst to Dory. Dory does not discover it by the end of the novel . . .it makes me wonder if Ms. Albus is writing a sequel. I had wanted Dory to find the diamond!!

Consider/discuss: lying, stealing, Dory's friend Vincent kisses her on the cheek . . .she says he may do it again sometime! -a budding, sweet romance develops between them as the novel progresses-nothing inappropriate.

*Highly recommend (for 4th grade and older)

-Borrowed from the library.

Nothing to Fear by Jackie French Koller*

 Thirteen-year-old Daniel Garvey learns to be a man during the Great Depression in NYC. When his Pa leaves to find work outside the city, he carries the burden of caring for his pregnant mother and little sister. 

Ms. Koller develops a dynamic, interesting character in Daniel. She immerses the reader into the hardships and challenges families endured during this time. Her word choice and imagery is superb. A great book to read aloud/read when studying the Great Depression. It will make history come alive.

*Highly recommend for 13 years and older. My thirteen-year-old read this book before me and really enjoyed it.

Warning/considerations: swearing, fighting, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse (Daniel's friend Maggie's dad is an abusive, alcoholic), accuses his mom and Hank of "messing around" , He calls Hank a gigolo

-I own this book.

The Saturdays -The Melendy Quartet by Elizabeth Enright*

The Melendy siblings, Mona, Rush, Randy and Oliver, are tired of being bored on Saturdays.  So Randy suggests they poll their allowance money and take turns having an afternoon adventure by him/herself.  During these Saturday afternoon explorations in NYC, they discover interesting places and individuals.
A fun, sweet read!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

**Newbery Honor Book in 2015**

Ms. Woodson shares her memories in free verse from the time she was born until about fifth grade.
She cleverly reveals racial issues in the 1960's-1970's, tragic events within her family, her search to find a place to call home (the south or NYC), her struggle in learning to read, and her deep desire to write and share stories.  I loved how she shared her journey as a young writer.
Beautiful language and very well written.
Points to discuss: Lots of history--Her southern grandmother was a Jehovah Witness and Ms. Woodson's mother continued taking the children to the Hall in NYC yet Ms. Woodson's uncle was Muslim; her mom left her father when she was a baby and then had a baby out of wedlock-this father is never mentioned; Angela Davis and the Black Panthers are mentioned a few times (and admired); her one teacher is a feminist

Family tree is included in the front of the book and the back of the book contains photographs from both sides of the family.

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

I absolutely loved the character Albie!
Ms. Graff handles bullies, trying to be cool, dealing with low self-esteem with sensitivity coupled with reality.  A great novel to read aloud and discuss with intermediate students.
Well crafted story-character development, word choice, plot pace
Points to discuss/warnings: lying (often), cruel classmates/unkindness, a minor character mentioned only a few times has two dads, grandfather swears one time, stuttering (speech impediments), disabilities (infer maybe Albie has some sort of disability or maybe even a lower IQ)
Strategies: inferring-character traits/feelings, asking questions
Use with the following books:
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (picture book; intermediate)
Wonder by R.J. Palacio (mature readers)
The Boy and the Jaguar  by Alan Rabinowitz (picture book-bio)
The Paper Boy by Vince Vawter (mature readers)

Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald*

Theodora is trying to survive in NYC after her grandfather died.  Her mother who is obsessed with proving theorems and drinking tea is not a help.  Then when Theo discovers a painting that could be priceless and. . ..stolen, her life changes forever and eventually for the better.
*Highly recommend.
Great plot-exciting, well-developed likable characters and fascinating history-art and WWII/Nazis.
Strategy: inferring-character development, character traits, synthesis
Warning: One Raphael painting which displays a scantily clad woman is described.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwelier*

Claudia is tired of the mundane and decides to create some excitement by running away to NYC and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  She needs money for this adventure so she invites her tightwad brother Jamie.  Cleverly they live in the museum without being discovered but in the meantime they become entranced by the mystery of a statue.  The former owner of the statue is eccentric and clever.  She points the children to true adventure.

*Highly recommend.
Points to discuss: running away, stealing (coins from a public fountain), gambling/cheating